HCMP's Real Estate and Land Use attorneys regularly develop creative and innovative legal strategies on behalf of its clients with master planned communities. The following are a few examples:

Issue: How best to design and implement an entitlement strategy to handle the long-term build out and infrastructure needs of very large parcels.

Results:

• Snoqualmie Ridge Phases I and II: Following the permitting and marketing success of Snoqualmie Ridge Phase I, HCMP also represented Quadrant Homes in permitting a major expansion with Snoqualmie Ridge II approvals, growing the Snoqualmie Ridge Master Planned Community to approximately 2,000 acres. Approvals included Mixed-Use Final Plans, platting for 3,000-4,000 dwelling units, a binding site plan for a business park, and various approvals and agreements for neighborhood retail, the PGA Tournament of Players golf course, community parks and trails system, and all associated infrastructure (roads, sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, police station, stormwater facilities etc.).
• Suncadia Master Planned Resort: HCMP has specific and local experience in Master Planned Resorts under the Growth Management Act. The most significant resort project to date is Suncadia, located just outside of Cle Elum in Kittitas County. Suncadia is a fully integrated project with a 4-star lodge, three golf courses, extensive recreation trails and other recreation facilities and residential and commercial property development for both the lease and sale markets.

HCMP assisted Suncadia with all aspects of entitling development of the 6,217-acre Suncadia master planned resort and the 1,100-acre Cle Elum Urban Growth Area property in Kittitas County. HCMP’s land use group assisted in negotiating a complex suite of development agreements with municipal, county and state agencies, as well as local conservation groups.

HCMP’s real estate team has documented and closed an impressive number of transactions at Suncadia. These range from the sale of development sites to builders to individual condominium purchase and sale agreements within the Lodge at Suncadia.

• Avalon Newcastle Master Plan: HCMP assisted Avalon Newcastle Joint Venture in obtaining approval of permits and a Development Agreement for its conversion of a former industrial site into up to 900 dwelling units and 43,000 square feet of commercial space on 22 developable acres.

HCMP’s representation helped tailor project obligations, vesting, and phasing for the development, including infrastructure, critical areas, trails and open spaces, SEPA mitigation and impact fees. HCMP regularly helps clients use Development Agreements to provide certainty for the development outcome and shape public benefit investments so that they also support the project.