Council Roundup: Council considers extending life of permits

Plus, commendation for long-time resident’s community service

On Monday, the City Council considered proposals to extend the life of permit applications, including already-issued permits, and to allow administrative extensions to vesting provisions for certain land use approvals. Bellevue remains in a strong position for development with a diverse and highly trained local workforce, respected national employers and an excellent quality of life, though local development has been impacted by near-term economic factors that have the potential to affect project timelines.

The City of Bellevue has a history of being proactive in implementing development process changes to provide certainty and reliability to developers and employers. The proposed extension to building permits and clear-and-grade permits would provide additional time for current applications and issued permits, allowing the projects to potentially remain viable through various economic conditions.

These efforts also support the policy direction established by the city’s Comprehensive Plan to support growth through strategic land use policies. The extensions are also consistent with previous extensions provided in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2010 and 2011 following the Great Recession.

The council approved the proposal to initiate amendments to the Land Use Code that could allow for administrative extensions to vesting for land use approvals. Proposed code changes will be brought back for council consideration in a future meeting.

The proposal responds to requests from the development community and other stakeholders to allow them more time to respond to market conditions for approved land use entitlements. Councilmembers voted unanimously in favor of initiating the amendment to the Land Use Code for vesting extension and to retain processing of the code amendments. The council also provided instructions for future consideration of the building and clear-and-grade permit extensions. 

Staff also briefed the council on a Development Services Department process improvement initiative planned for the next year related to permitting. The department will focus on building resiliency and increasing the capacity to process permits more efficiently. There will also be an emphasis on improving services to one-time customers with less experience and familiarity with land and building development and providing both virtual and in-person service options to all customers. More details are in the meeting materials. 

Commendation for long-time resident Bill Pace

The City Council presented a commendation in recognition of the life and service of long-time Bellevue resident Bill Pace, who died in late 2022 at age 92. His wife and son were present to receive the commendation.

Bill left a rich legacy through decades of channeling his energy into serving neighborhoods and the entire city. Bill sold produce in Bellevue for 68 years, including at a fruit and vegetable stand at the Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm for 13 years. He opened a café and produce market at the Newport Hills Shopping Center, which contributed to a revitalization of the shopping center and neighborhood. 

Note: The March 20 council meeting is canceled due to a council retreat. The next council meeting will be Monday, March 27.