Residents want to raze Wyrsch’s plans

Published 1:42 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

NORTH BEND – George Wyrsch bought some land in 1983 and has been trying to build on it ever since.

The Forster Woods neighborhood was constructed in 1992, and its residents have been trying to limit the growth around them ever since.

They see Wyrsch’s proposed nine-acre project across the street from them as damaging to the rural lifestyle for which they moved to the neighborhood. Wyrsch had been granted a variance – a license to build contrary to code – from the city of North Bend to build certain projects on his land, which lies directly south of Interstate 90 at Exit 31 and is across the street from the northeast corner of the housing development.

Both sides were present at a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Mount Si Senior Center in North Bend to formally argue their interests before a hearing examiner who will rule on the variances.

Wyrsch bought the land in 1983 but was unable to build on the site because it had no water or sewer until Forster Woods was built nearby in the early 1990s. He planned to build a gas station, restaurant, fast-food restaurant and a motel, and was granted variances from the city.

Development was stalled, however, when complaints from the neighborhood and the city stated the project was too much development for the area. Opponents to the Wyrsch project cited everything from potential crime, pollution and traffic problems as reasons the project should be stopped or reduced.

Wyrsch, along with his supporters, pleaded his case to the hearing examiner that his rights as a property owner were being infringed upon by the Forster Woods Homeowners Association.

Association President Susan Sellers echoed many of her neighbors’ opinions that they should have a quiet and safe place to live, which they think would be threatened by the Wyrsch proposal.

“Having the development would be detrimental to the view [of Mount Si] and a lot of the reasons we moved to North Bend,” said Forster Woods resident Dan Armstrong. “We know development is going to happen, but we think it can be done without compromising the rural character of the city.”

Residents insisted that they are not anti-growth and are more than willing to let Wyrsch build on the land, as long as it remains within the confines of city code.

“We’re not opposed to Wyrsch being able to build on his land, we’re just opposed to the variance,” Sellers said at the meeting. “It can be developed without a variance, and we think there can be balance between development and our neighborhood.”

Many Forster Woods residents expressed dismay over the fact their neighborhood was even built in the first place.

Wyrsch contends that the existing codes make it impossible for his development to be economically feasible, and he has vested interest in the land since he purchased it before many of the existing codes came into effect.

He said he his willing to sell the land to someone else, adding the city or Forster Woods could buy it if they want to preserve the land as open space.

The last day for the public hearing is March 11 and a ruling will come within 90 days.

“I think the hearing went well, and I think they will rule in our favor,” Wyrsch said.