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Revised Harbor Winds plans call for 77 homes to replace forest east of Highway 16
A developer is seeking approval to build 77 homes on 25.5 acres just east of Highway 16 near 93rd Street and 49th Street Court.
If the Harbor Winds project moves forward, the new houses on currently forested land north of Haven of Rest cemetery would generate increased traffic on Burnham Drive.
A previous developer planned to build 45 homes on the same property in March. But after encountering issues with access to the site, that developer worked through a King County Superior Court-appointed receiver to sell the properties.
The receiver, Resource Transition Consultants LLC, brokered a deal with Garrette Homes. Garrette believes it has solved the access issue.
“We entered into an agreement with the goal of transferring the property to Garrette Homes,” said Kevin Hanchett of Resource Transition Consultants. “When they get platted by the city, then they sell the property. It’s a public-record land sale of $2.5 million.”
Representatives from Garrette Homes did not return phone calls or emails to Gig Harbor Now.
Next steps
The city of Gig Harbor is accepting public comment on the developer’s plans through Wednesday, Aug. 19. Comments can be submitted via email to [email protected] or via mail or in person to the city Planning Division, 3510 Grandview St., Gig Harbor, Washington, 98335.
A hearing examiner will rule on the project after the comment period, Gig Harbor Community Development Director Eric Baker said. If the examiner’s decision is appealed, it would go to Pierce County Superior Court.
The conceptual site plan for the Harbor Winds development.
The city’s planning, building and public works departments are now reviewing the project. Zoning at the site allows for six to 12 homes per acre, according to the Gig Harbor city development code.
“This type of project typically takes multiple rounds of staff review, so we are unable to estimate a potential date for the hearing examiner meeting,” Baker said.
Access to the homes
A new public road would provide access to the homes. It would connect to Burnham Drive via 93rd Street, 49th Avenue Court and 96th Street, according to city documents.
Both 93rd Street and 49th Avenue Court are currently unimproved private roadways, the application notes. They would become public roads if the development moves forward.
The east side of property borders the Cushman Powerline Trail. Signs would direct pedestrians across the busier roadway of 96th Street, according to studies on file for the proposed housing development. Continuous sidewalks would extend pedestrian safety along 93rd Street and 49th Avenue Court.
The property includes two wetlands and a stream that will require additional analysis. Buffer areas will need to be created, as well, according to the city.
A sign announcing the comment period at one of the entrances to the proposed housing development off 93rd Street in Gig Harbor. Photo by Suzanne Roig-Gordon
A project long in the works
This is not the first time a housing project at that location has been before city planners for approval. A conglomeration of developers formed Gig Harbor Homesites in 2006 to acquire one of the multiple parcels used in the project, according to court documents.
The group purchased adjacent parcels as it pursued its plans for Harbor Winds. It obtained preliminary parcel mapping in 2012, but many hurdles remained. Those included the wetlands, traffic and tree buffering, among other issues.
A map submitted with planning documents shows the location of the proposed Harbor Winds development.
The group encountered resistance from the Gig Harbor City Council by 2016. Court documents indicate that city officials told the developers their project was “dead in the water” unless they scaled back housing density.
Concluding that the property could not be developed, the group tried to sell the land to the owners of Haven of Rest Cemetery for $1 million in 2020. But one of the principal owners moved to block the sale, which ultimately landed the property in receivership.
Traffic concerns
According to a traffic impact study conducted in June, the new houses would add 887 weekday daily trips to nearby roads in 2031. The study examined three intersections: 49th Avenue Court and 96th Street; Burnham Drive and 96th Street; and Burnham Drive and Harbor Hill Drive.
Engineers hired by the developers concluded the project would not have a significant impact on the roadways. The study suggested adding a left-turn lane from Burnham Drive to 96th Street to mitigate traffic.
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