Click here to view the guide and exhibits to the Development Agreements
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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.