Published: Friday, March 28, 2008
Tempers flare at waterfront talk
Property owners, council spar over intent, timing of meeting
By Chris Fyall
Enterprise editor
Anger flashed briefly on both sides of the Council dais March 25 as about 120 people crammed into Edmonds' Council Chambers to hear almost no concrete information about downtown/waterfront redevelopment.
Through multiple presentations in the meeting that lasted past 11 p.m., no new plans were presented, no stunning revelations made.
Al Dykes and Bob Gregg, owners of two of three parcels in question, each said they hope to have building permits by the end of 2008, but also said nothing is ready yet.
"I think this was a wasted opportunity," said Councilwoman Deanna Dawson, who spent most of the two-hour long presentations from city staff, urban design expert Mark Hinshaw and the property owners reading papers in her lap.
The council hoped to hear information about the progress in planning, she said. "That was the council's intent, and that is clearly not what happened tonight."
No plans were presented March 25, because no plans are ready, said Dykes. The meeting was premature, he said.
Nobody from the city ever asked him if he had anything to present. "I am in the process of (creating plans still)," he said.
The meeting did uncover some new -- if incremental -- information.
The Port of Edmonds is definitely backing away from immediate development, preferring a "wait and see" approach, Commissioner Bruce Faires said. Harbor Square might not change for 10 to 15 years, he said.
The Port owns the largest chunk of the 20-acre property, which is also comprised of the Dykes' Antique Mall site and Gregg's ex-Skippers property. The three property owners worked together last summer on a cohesive effort that hasn't produced anything of note in months.
Dykes and Gregg, however, are moving ahead full-steam.
Both Dykes and Gregg confirmed that they intend to design and build separate projects on their respective properties – and soon.
They also confirmed that they were in separate talks with the state Department of Transportation regarding possible public-private partnerships on the DOT parking lot that separates their two properties. Gregg called Dykes a competitor with respect to the DOT lot.
As for the lack of plans that appeared to irk Dawson, Gregg said he had forbidden his architect from starting any, saying his company would continue to pursue public input before putting ink to paper.
He also restated his intent to seek a LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status for his building, suggesting a thermal heating system capitalizing on the high water table would make it less costly than in other locations.
Gregg said he will pursue a contract rezone, while Dykes' attorney suggested either a contract rezone or a more general zoning change could be pursued on the Antique Mall site.
Gregg also said that one of his goals is to get unanimous council approval for his project, and he believes so much in a public effort his team will undergo that he thinks 90 percent of the city will be excited to see it come in.
"We are not going to draw a line in the sand and say, 'Let's see if you can stop us,'" he said.
Gregg's public effort will not shy away from the height issue, said David Van Skike, a consultant for Gregg.
That height issue, of course, seemed to be central.
Some at the meeting shouted "Please do not wall off the waterfront!," "25-feet + 5-feet", "No tall urban village."
At the very least, the discussion highlighted the process for Edmonds' residents.
"I think this is a great first step,"Councilman DJ Wilson said said. "Welcome to making sausage."
This is how politics work. If it were to go fast, I think it would be worse than if it were to go arduously slow."
Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com
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