Wyrsch property to be studied further

Published 2:22 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

NORTH BEND — Discussions on the vacant 9 acres

alongside Interstate 90’s Exit 31 owned by North Bend businessman

George Wyrsch have resumed with the city of North Bend, although

it remains unclear for what purpose the land would be used.

Wyrsch first wants to divide the land into four parcels

before considering what to build there. However, he mentioned a

motel, gas station, restaurant, mini-storage or office buildings as

future possibilities for the site, which sits directly off the interstate. But

that would be some years away.

The North Bend City Council last week approved a

motion for the project to be reviewed by an outside consultant, instead

of by city staff.

“This doesn’t cost the city anything,” Wyrsch said. “I’m

paying an outside company to review the documents we submitted

relating to [subdividing the property] because the city doesn’t

have the staff to do it.”

City officials had to approve the review because they are

involved in the process, so if Wyrsch did not pay

the consultant’s review expense, the city would have to pick up

the tab, Community Services Director Larry Stockton said.

Wyrsch has planned on developing the property for about

a decade, but decided to subdivide the land and applied for

the change May 1, 2000. Since then the city has asked for more

studies before the application can be processed.

“They said they had no staff to work on it,” city officials

told him at the time, he said, adding that they suggested he pay for

the plans to be studied.

What’s being reviewed is the previous work and studies, so

the consultant would, in effect, double-check the traffic and

environmental research. The site contains wetlands, and

Ribary Creek runs through it, so among the items to be reviewed are

the appropriate building setbacks from wetlands and creeks.

The outcome of double-checking this research is to

determine how much of the property would be available to build

upon, Wyrsch said.

Wyrsch added that his land is among the last in North

Bend where a motel, gas station and other services could be built

because of its industrial-commercial zoning, and he said the

services are needed.

He explained that restaurants at Exit 31 are extremely busy,

so there is room for more, and there still exists a need for another

hotel or motel for interstate travelers or Valley visitors.

Plans for the property have drawn opposition in the past

from nearby Forster Woods residents who said development on the

site could have a negative impact on their neighborhood, such as

increased traffic and nighttime light glare.