New Safeway takes a step forward; City Council approves developer’s agreement

Safeway has committed financially to public projects associated with its proposed grocery store on 10th Avenue near Lincoln Road.

POULSBO — Safeway has committed financially to public projects associated with its proposed grocery store on 10th Avenue near Lincoln Road.

The Poulsbo City Council approved the developer’s agreement Wednesday, with $740,000 in public improvements to be paid in full by Safeway, Inc.

Safeway, which began considering Poulsbo earlier this year for a grocery store site, is under contract to purchase the 9.8-acre site, on land owned by Olympic Property Group and Harrison Hospital. The majority of the site was previously owned by the city for the new city hall, but was sold to Harrison in 2008 when  plans changed to keep city hall downtown.

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This agreement commits Safeway to install a traffic signal at 10th Avenue and NE Lincoln Road, and constructing frontage improvements along Highway 305 and Lincoln Road including a sidewalk and bicycle lane. The company has been given approval from the state Department of Transportation to construct a deceleration lane and driveway from 305 to the store site.

Michelle Fleharty, Safeway real estate manager, said construction of the traffic signal and 305 frontage improvements will coincide with construction of the store, beginning in spring 2012. She said the store is scheduled to open in November 2012.

This Safeway store is unique, said Councilman Ed Stern, because the design includes an underground parking garage for the majority of the stalls. The proposed 56,000-square-foot building will include a bank, coffee outlet, gas station and pharmacy, according to previous reports.Fleharty said she could not comment on the total cost of the project.

The site is down the street from Central Market and across 305 from Albertson’s and Rite Aid.

Approving this store shows, according to Councilman David Musgrove, “Not only is Poulsbo a good place to live, but a good place for businesses and a good place to build.”

Councilwoman Linda Berry-Maraist said she appreciated the pedestrian efforts, as a sidewalk on the east side of 305, directly across from the Kitsap Transit station, is a “valuable improvement.”

Mayor Becky Erickson also said residents should not be concerned about more development in the area, as the green space between the proposed site and the Poulsbo Fire Station on Liberty Avenue is city-owned wetlands and will not be developed.

 

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