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Pioneer Plaza
This Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed
Pioneer Plaza Planned Unit Development is now available
for view and comment. The 45-day extended comment
period begins October 29, 2007 and will end on December
12, 2007. Written comments are welcome, and must be
received by the Planning Department no later than 5:00
pm on December 12th. A public meeting will also be held
at
Vista Middle School
at 7:00pm on Monday, December 10th, to take oral
comments on the document.
There are several ways to obtain a copy of the DEIS. You can download the DEIS here at no charge. Copies can be viewed at the Ferndale Library and can also be purchased at the Ferndale Planning and Building Department (CDs are $10.00, and bound hard copies are $37.00).
The Pioneer Plaza Revenue & Expense Financial Analysis is now available to download. To view the Financial Analysis, please click here.
If you have any questions about the DEIS, or the environmental review process, please call the Ferndale Planning and Building Department at (360) 384-4006.
THE PIONEER PLAZA PROPOSAL
The City is currently reviewing a proposal for a mixed-use commercial and residential project known as Pioneer Plaza. Pioneer Plaza is a "Lifestyle Center" proposed for a 98-acre parcel of General Commercial zoned land located east of I-5 and south of Main Street.
What is a Lifestyle Center?
Lifestyle Centers are open-air shopping centers generally designed with a pedestrian orientation. They may or may not include any anchor stores. These centers focus on upscale national chains, entertainment and theaters, restaurants, and specialty stores. Lifestyle Centers are often designed as a destination center with more than just retail to encourage browsing and multiple activities in one visit. A Lifestyle Center can generally be defined as a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards consumers. Lifestyle centers emerged as a retailing trend in the late 1990s and are often located in suburban areas. More info on shopping centers here.
The International Council of Shopping Centers indicates that the service area of a Lifestyle Center is typically 8-12 miles. This statistic suggests Pioneer Plaza would serve a population that extends beyond the Ferndale city limits. Examples of Lifestyle Centers in our region are: University Village in Seattle, and Redmond Town Center in Redmond.
What would Pioneer Plaza be like?
Pioneer Plaza is designed to include an eclectic mix of multi-story residential and retail buildings clustered around a road system that would provide pedestrian, bicycle, transit access, on street parking and a large assortment of individual mixed-use storefronts.
To view a collection of photo simulations of the project and photos of similar developments in other cities please review the following pdf files.
Of the site's 98.45 acres, the proposed project would set aside an estimated 57.60 acres for wetlands, buffer landscaping, general landscaping, common areas, and parks. About 40 acres of the site would be developed for structures, parking, streets and sidewalks. Pioneer Plaza would include approximately 775,000 sq/ft. of retail space, 235,000 sq/ft. of professional/commercial space including three, four-story parking garages. Pioneer Plaza would include approximately 160 condominium units located in freestanding residential buildings and above street level retail shops.
Several common areas and parks are proposed within Pioneer Plaza and include a community stage, a trail system, a fenced dog park, and two landscaped parks located at both ends of the proposed development.
The Review Process
The City released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Monday,
October 29, 2007. A 45-day extended review period is provided in the EIS process to allow the public, local jurisdictions and state agencies to review the DEIS and provide written comment.
All written comments must be received by the Planning and Building Department by
5:00 PM on December 12, 2007. A public meeting will also be held at
Vista Middle
School at 7:00pm on Monday, December
10th, to take oral comments on the document.
To download the DEIS, please click here. CDs, as well as printed copies, will be available through the Ferndale Planning Department at Ferndale City Hall, 2095 Main Street, Ferndale. Copies will also be available at the Ferndale Library, located at 2222 Main Street, Ferndale.
After review and comment on the DEIS a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will be issued by the City. The Hearings Examiner and the City Council will rely on the FEIS in understanding the impacts of the project.
Public Hearing
A public hearing will be held by the City of Ferndale Hearings Examiner after the FEIS is issued. The date has yet to be determined. Once a date has been established notice will be posted on the project site, in the Ferndale Record Journal, sent to surrounding property owners, and will be posted on the City’s website. The public will have an opportunity to provide written or spoken testimony at the public hearing
City Council Meeting
In closed record public meeting the City Council will consider the Hearings Examiner’s recommendation, the recommendation of staff, the FEIS, and public testimony provided at the Hearings Examiner public hearing before making a decision to approve or deny the project.
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