Council approves low-impact development standards for Park Lake Homes II project

The Metropolitan King County Council took a step toward protecting the communities that provide working-wage housing with its unanimous approval of special low-impact development standards for the proposed Park Lake Homes II replacement project.

The Council adopted the legislation at its May 19 meeting.

Park Lake Homes II is the fourth project to be approved for this experimental King County program. Using innovative permitting, site development, and building construction techniques, the program is designed to produce projects that protect habitat, manage surface and ground water, and efficiently use energy and natural resources.

“We want to ensure that large projects can take advantage of new green building technologies and construction practices to minimize impacts on the surrounding neighborhood,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine, prime sponsor of the legislation. “We also hope that the streamlined permitting process will lead to cost savings for both the project and for King County.”

The Greenbridge project—the ongoing redevelopment of the first Park Lake Homes as a mixed-income neighborhood—was also permitted and developed through this program. Redevelopment projects in Renton and on Vashon Island were also included in the original program.

The King County Housing Authority, developers of the Park Lake II project, also predict that participation in this low-impact development program will enhance their pending application for a $20 million federal HOPE VI construction grant.