Woodinville Village, the wine-themed village planned for undeveloped land along NE 145th Street and Woodinville-Redmond Road, got bigger by five acres when the City Council voted March 20 to approve adding the Redwood Apartments property (4.09 acres) and the Pisani property (.85 acres) to the mixed-use project. The council’s unanimous vote took place after a presentation by project developers, a public hearing, and council discussion.

The project

The $150 million project will now encompass approximately 23 acres and feature production wineries, tasting rooms, restaurants, coffee shops, retail, housing, public spaces and trails, all designed to a village scale with a Northwest woodland character.

In conjunction with the project, a series of three roundabouts and associated road improvements will be constructed to fix the city’s southern choke point at the Hollywood intersection of NE 145th Street and Woodinville-Redmond Road. Besides the main Hollywood roundabout, two additional roundabouts will be built at village access locations along the Chateau Ste. Michelle / Columbia Winery leg of State Route 202 and the Woodinville-Redmond Road leg of SR-202.

The developer’s presentation

Mike Raskin, partner in the firm developing the project, MJR Development, told the council that MJR talked to anyone who was willing to talk with them about the project.

“We found the community is excited about options for people to live,” said Raskin.

Raskin’s business partner Mike McClure told the council that Woodinville Village Associates now owns the Waterman and Freimuth parcels that were part of the original development agreement with the city. He said that adding the two new parcels would provide more public space for the village. It would allow for a football-field size activity meadow, virtually doubling the size of the public square.

McClure said in a phone conversation, “Adding more parcels allows us to do more.”

He also said that some of the Pisani land would be used to provide a landscape buffer along SR-202 and to integrate car and pedestrian connections from the village to the neighboring Hollywood Vineyards shopping center located at the Hollywood intersection.

He said the project’s landscape architect is also designing a landscaped transition from the Redwood Apartments to the Sammamish River Trail.

According to McClure, the Redwood Apartments will be significantly upgraded to match the standards and theme of the Woodinville Village and will be offered for sale as condominiums.

“We will take Redwood Apartments,” he told the council, “and make them a high-end residential community with winery-looking buildings.”

The buildings will retain the current two-story town-home form with existing detached garages. Residents of Redwood Apartments will have the opportunity to buy their current unit or buy another unit in the complex.

The inclusion of the 40 Redwood units brings the number of residential units in the village to about 270.

According to the city’s Staff Report dated March 20 and found on page 159 of the March 20 Council Packet, the Pisani property, which borders SR-202, is currently developed with a single-story office building used as a sleep clinic and several smaller out buildings. The report states future plans for the land include the possible addition of 10 multi-family dwelling units and additional commercial space that could be used for office or retail tenants.

Public testimony

Lori Gill, owner of a Windermere property management office in Bellevue, told the council that Woodinville Village was “a fabulous project.” She said that her company was available for those who would be displaced by the remodeling, that there were 35 rental properties in the area. Those interested should contact her.

Leif Herrington, realtor with Windermere’s Woodinville office, said, “Current tenants will have to find new places.”

He said that in addition to area homes for sale, there were condos available locally ranging from $125,000 to $200,000, saying some were even available to rent. Those interested were encouraged to contact him.

Woodinville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Erdman said, “I am here to support this project. This plan … fits the lifestyle we are looking for. I am in empathy with those who have to move. I will have to move, too, (because I am living in Canterbury Square, which is in the process of being sold).

Four e-mails were sent to the city about the project from people either residing in, managing or owning Redwood Apartments. The e-mails were included as part of the public record. Council was given a copy of each. Each was also summarized aloud by City Planner Steve Munson.

Council discussion

Councilman Mike Roskind said that he really liked the Woodinville Village project. He said that he thought the city and city staff made it difficult for the developers. He also wondered if the city had reached out enough to the Redwood residents.

Councilman Don Brocha said that (Roskind) was overstating the case a little. He felt the Redwood Apartments were properly engaged. He said that the Planning Commission recommended the design guidelines that apply to the condos.

He believed that the proposed agreement between the city and MJR was reasonable. If the apartments were going to become condominiums, he’d rather see them (developed under the constraints of the MJR development agreement).

Councilman Chuck Price said that there would always be people for and against any given project. The question becomes whether the development went through the right process.

“This development,” said Price, “has done it more than any project I’ve seen in 20 years.”

What’s next?

MJR already announced four wineries that will move into the village, DeLille Cellars, DiStephano Winery, the Woodinville Wine Company, and Brian Carter Cellars. McClure said he hopes to announce village restaurants in the next couple months.

MJR also hopes to begin initial site work and to begin pre-sale of the condominiums this summer. Later this year, McClure said, the roundabout work should begin.

Construction of Phase I is planned for sometime between summer and late fall of 2007.

Phase I will consist of a couple condominium units, the wineries, restaurants and public space.

“We are excited about this project,” said McClure. “We hope the public is too.”

For more information about Woodinville Village, go to www.woodinvillevillage.com.