Issaquah Highlands Connections
February 2017 •
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Building an Urban Village Neighborhood
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How It All Gets Done by Sarah Hoey, IHCA Executive Director Ever wonder what role the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) plays when it comes to building a new neighborhood with a production builder? Many do not realize the complexity and collaboration involved in planning and approving new construction neighborhood projects within Issaquah Highlands. As the Executive Director for IHCA, I administrate the building process together with the Builder Architectural Review Committee (BARC) which consists of architects, engineers, and designers, as well as developers, builders, and representatives from the City to ensure the new neighborhood design follows the spirit and vision of the Issaquah Highlands. This includes following architectural
standards, created as part of the master developer’s (Port Blakely) original vision for the community. Currently, we have three neighborhoods completing construction in 2017: Ichijo’s Sun Ridge, Toll Brother’s Pine Crest (both off Falls Drive), and Polygon’s Brownstones south of Grand Ridge Plaza. In 2017, we will be working on Polygon’s Westridge South neighborhood which will consist of 72 single family homes adjacent to Swedish Hospital. I am also involved with several new projects that are in the design concept/ development stage.
IHCA Works At Every Step of the Architectural Review process:
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Getting Started: Site Plan Review
Next: Building Permit Process
Then: Landscape Design Process
Site Building Construction Process
Finally: Landscape Construction Process
1. BARC orientation meeting with applicant
1. BARC design review of all architectural plans with applicant
1. BARC design review of all landscape plans with applicant
1. Pre-construction meeting with BARC
1. Landscaping pre-construction meeting with builder
2. Review feedback/corrections required submitted back to applicant from BARC
2. Post framing field inspection per house/building completed by BARC
2. Inspection of soil and site preparation
3. Additional follow up meetings, if required
3. Post siding/color inspection completed by BARC
4. Conditional BARC approval
4. Final neighborhood inspection completed by BARC, punch list created
2. Collaborative meeting with city development team 3. Pre-application meeting to review initial plat plans/ review comment period 4. Additional joint meeting with city and applicant to review any revisions 5. BARC application approval from IHCA 6. City grants conditional approval 7. City approves via Urban Village Development Commission and City Council approval
2. Review feedback/corrections required submitted back to applicant from BARC 3. Additional follow up meetings, if required 4. Conditional BARC approval 5. Submit building permit to City 6. City review process 7. City approval of architectural plans including architectural style and design
5. Submit building permit to City 6. City review process 7. City approval of landscape plans considering architectural style and design
5. Additional follow up final inspection as needed
3. Final inspection of as built/ designed approved plans, punch list created 4. Follow up final inspection 5. Irrigation system audit by engineer to ensure compliance with as-built designs and city code
6. BARC issues final field review report to City based on approved as built/designed plans 7. City completes final inspections
Each application can take years to complete. This is just one element of the work your HOA does for you. The IHCA goes beyond how a traditional HOA is involved in the process. Typically after a community is built, the builder completes the entire project and transitions it to a homeowner-appointed board.
Given the dynamic development in Issaquah Highlands, it is my job to support growth without wavering from our mission: to manage the governance structure, community standards, administration, maintenance and preservation of Issaquah Highlands as a master planned community of residential, nonresidential, open space and other uses.