1-Design Review Cover Letter.pdfC'e. 2CC6
J DEVELOPMENT
SE NIURS HOUSING 0
FlIVERED
August 26, 2014
Re: Cover Letter for Design Review Application
Property Location: 7208 & 7220 2 101h St SW, Edmonds, WA
City of Edmonds,
This letter is to serve as the cover letter for our Design Review submittal and describe how the proposal
satisfies the applicable requirements and standards of the Comprehensive Plan and Edmonds
Community Development Code.
Our company has developed multiple Seniors Housing projects in 7 states across the central and
western United States, in response to the overwhelming amount of seniors being diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease and other forms of Dementia. Our company has concentrated on developing a
building with a "community" feel for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of
Dementia; a homelike feel and not a sterile, hospital like environment.
In researching the Edmonds market, we have found that there is a large unmet need for the elderly
suffering from forms of Dementia. In Edmonds, in order to serve the need in the community in an urban
setting with limited land opportunities, we propose to develop a three story building, with the first level
being parking, offices, laundry and kitchen facilities, and the additional 2 floors being comprised of
resident rooms. Page 12 of the City of Edmonds Comprehensive Plan confirms that "The city has a
higher percentage of retired persons and senior citizens than its neighboring cities and Snohomish
County as a whole", which aligns with our research as well.
Our Memory Care use is a high need, low impact use for the City of Edmonds. As the residents of our
communities do not drive due to dementia, the traffic impact is greatly reduced. Additionally, the
building will be staffed with a 24 hour onsite Nurse to respond quickly to resident issues and greatly
reduces the need for 911 assistance. The proposed building will be located close to Highway 99 which
will reduce the traffic impact on the arterial streets. The project will be in the Highway 99 Corridor
Overlay and we will meet all of the overlay design requirements. Bus stops and a proposed loading zone
are located nearby on the public sidewalks for staff to use which will further reduce the impact of traffic
on the city. This is in support of the sustainability goal B from the City Comprehensive plan. in the event
that hospitalization or 911 assistance is needed, the proposed location is less than .5 miles from Swedish
Hospital, and approximately 1.5 miles driving distance from Fire Station 16.
RJ Development
401 Central St SE — Olympia, WA 98501
(360-528-3343) — www.ridevelopmentservices.com
Additionally, due to the nature of our project and the low impact to traffic, we have received approval
from JoAnne Zulauf to submit a traffic impact analysis with the submission of the building permit
application instead of with this Design Review submittal. We anticipate using the Assisted Living Land
Use Category (ITE Land Use 254) identified in the ITE Trip Generation Manual and will complete an
independent study to determine the impact fee ($ per dwelling) for this category (currently not
identified in the City of Edmonds Traffic Impact Fee Rates Table).
In accordance with Sustainability goal G.2 within the Comprehensive Code, our Memory Care use will
allow residents to remain in the community of Edmonds and lessen the need to move elsewhere as their
health needs change. The building will contain interior courtyards with plants, common areas and
walking corridors along with many windows that will allow more natural light in the building than typical
buildings; we feel this will contribute to the health and wellbeing of the residents.
The design of the building will incorporate architectural aspects seen in Edmonds and other
communities in the Seattle area, designed to give a fresh look to the Northwest architecture and appeal
that makes Edmonds unique. We feel this will help to upgrade the architectural and landscape design
qualities as referenced from the Edmonds Community Development Plan.
In addition to adhering to the Edmonds Community Development Plan and the Comprehensive Code, we
are also developing our business and building to conform to the standards of the Washington State
Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) and the Department of Health to be licensed as an
Assisted Living facility. We have worked with the State to obtain licensure in multiple cities in
Washington and there are no foreseeable roadblocks for licensure in Edmonds. in fact, we have already
completed a preliminary concept review meeting with the Department of Health and received positive
feedback on the preliminary project design.
With the unmet need for Memory Care in Edmonds, demographic trends indicating a growing need in
the future, we are confident that our building and business will align with the goals and requirements of
the Edmonds Community Development Plan and the Comprehensive Code and be a positive addition to
the City of Edmonds.
We look forward to being a part of the Edmonds community. If you have any questions about our
proposal, please don't hesitate to contact us immediately.
Sincerely,
Jeff Yates
Partner and Vice President
RJ Development
360-528-3343 office
360-918-6037 mobile
ieff@rodevelopmentservices.com
RJ Development
401 Central St SE — Olympia, WA 98501
(360-528-3343) — www.r*developmentservices.com