Bellevue developer files application for hotel project in North Bend
February 4, 2011
By Dan Catchpole
A Bellevue-based developer has filed permit applications with North Bend to build a hotel near the city’s outlet mall.
The developer, New Sky, filed an application in January to build two hotel buildings and a free-standing restaurant on a wooded area at the northeast corner of South Fork Avenue and Bendigo Boulevard. According to plans filed with the city, the proposed hotel buildings would be 55 feet tall and each have about 85 rooms.
New Sky is owned by Paul Pong, whose family has developed several hotels in the Seattle area, including the Courtyard Inn by Marriott in downtown Bellevue.
The nine-acre site, next to the Shamrock Park neighborhood, is owned by the Pioneer Development Corp., which is also owned by Pong, according to county records.
Pong could not be reached for comment.
The project is just a few blocks north of another hotel project by local business owner George Wyrsch. However, he has had trouble finding financing for his development south of Interstate 90.
The New Sky project still has to clear many hurdles before ground is broken, according to Gina Estep, the city’s senior planner.
The steps include ensuring the plan’s compliance with North Bend code and state law, such as passing environmental review and design review.
Once the developer’s application is in order, the city will schedule public hearings before permits are approved.
The city has not made any decisions yet on the application, Estep said.
The hotel would not significantly affect traffic on Bendigo Boulevard, according to a traffic study commissioned by the developer. The plans call for more than 200 parking spaces.
The study, conducted by Heath and Associates Inc. in December, projected that most trips — about 75 percent — to the site would come from I-90.
The site would generate an additional 144 trips during the evening peak traffic hour’s nearly 1,700 trips through the intersection of South Fork Avenue and Bendigo Boulevard, according to the study.
The permitting process is expected to take five to six months, according to Estep.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
