Black Diamond City Council
Approves YarrowBay Development Agreements
Black Diamond, Wash. - December
12, 2011 - The Black Diamond City Council approved the revised Development
Agreements for YarrowBay's planned communities of The Villages and Lawson Hills
late Monday morning.
This approval comes three months
after the Hearing Examiner for the City of Black Diamond recommended the City
Council approve the Development Agreements with implementing conditions.
YarrowBay reviewed and agreed to all of the Hearing Examiner's conditions.
"We listened to the Hearing
Examiner, we listened to the public, we listened to the City and we believe
that everyone who participated in the process will be proud to see over 20
years of vision start to take shape," said Brian Ross, CEO of YarrowBay.
The plans for Lawson Hills and
The Villages call for mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods that retain small-town
character and appreciation for the natural surroundings. The Villages Master
Plan was recognized in October with a 2011 national Builder's Choice Design
& Planning Award - "Best Site Plan over 20 acres" - reflecting the
innovative and sustainable approach utilized by YarrowBay.
The Development Agreements were
approved after a six month process that included over 20 hours of public
testimony and thousands of pages of written comments. The goal of the process
is to ensure the Development Agreements implement the approved master planned
development permit conditions the City Council voted and unanimously approved
in September 2010.
"Like the approval of the MPDs
the approval of the Development Agreements is a huge achievement for all parties
involved," said Ross. "With Development Agreements we can continue to move
forward - hopefully toward breaking ground next summer and creating jobs here in
Black Diamond."
Black Diamond was designated an
Urban Growth Area under the Growth Management Act in 1996. Since 2000,
YarrowBay has been working with the City and the public to thoughtfully and
collaboratively design and implement the two planned communities in Black
Diamond.
Brian
Ross
Chief
Executive Officer
YarrowBay Holdings
Added on 12/15/2011
Filed Under
Black Diamond News,
Bulletins and Alerts by Chamber blog
