Friday, May 23, 2014

Bellevue mulls changes to annexation fees

Growth estimates and capital improvements reduced since 2009

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By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

     The city of Bellevue is considering a significant reduction of annexation fees from the planned 150-home Strahorn subdivision, a project that was approved in January 2009.

     The proposed development in Slaughterhouse Canyon east of town was approved after almost four years of studies to determine its impact on city services.

     A review of capital-improvement plans and growth estimates made by Caplan Associates in 2009 was presented to the Bellevue City Council on Monday.  Based on a reduction of growth estimates and the need for capital improvements, Caplan proposed reducing the fees from $5.1 million to $1.6 million.

     Bellevue Planning Director Craig Eckles said the original fee included expected impacts on city services from two more annexations, which did not materialize. He said the final fee would be determined after meeting with Strahorn representatives.

     Developer Jeff Pfaeffle was given a two-year extension in February on his first scheduled fee payment of $500,000.

     In other Bellevue news:

• The City Council rejected a proposal by the Wood River Land Trust to give the city property in the floodway that once belonged to David Harris, because the city already has many acres of land slated for public and park use that has not been planned for or developed.

     “The Council felt the timing is just not right, currently,” Eckles said.

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