The Summit Homes developer is in the process of getting city approval to develop 6.2 acres into 19 single-family residential lots in northern Issaquah.

The Jazz Run preliminary plat proposal in the 23000 block of Southeast 48th Street sits on the Issaquah/Sammamish City borders. It’s one of many developments to pop up in this area within the last decade or so.

The development would include a small park. Construction crews would also complete the last piece of a trail that wraps around the wetland, which stretches into surrounding eastern, western and southern plats. The wetland stretches across 1.76 acres in the southern portion of the proposed Jazz Run area.

The rural outskirts of northern Issaquah have been slated for development for years, per the city’s comprehensive plan, as the area is within the city’s urban growth boundary.

The area is comprised of three parcels, each with an existing residence. Two of these houses will be demolished and removed.

A lot line adjustment on the parcel with the last, pre-existing house will divide the parcel in half, isolating the residence along the southeastern plat border.

Lot sizes within the development will range between 4,661 square feet and 6,549 square feet, with a density of 3.05 lots per acre. This is well below Issaquah’s maximum density requirements of 7.26 dwellings per acre.

A couple of Issaquah residents brought up some concerns with the preliminary plat designs during the city’s hearing examiner public hearing Tuesday morning.

Kate Stenberg, whose house neighbors the proposed plat location, has lived off of Southeast 48th Street for 20 years with her husband, Bob Harrison.

Stenberg has a Ph.D. in biology and in land use planning and used her credentials as a basis for the issues she took regarding the wetland buffer and ground borne vibration.

“I would recommend we not reduce the buffer,” she said, citing the 25 percent reduction to the outer area.

She also raised concern with fragmenting the buffer, as the wetland trail would be divide in the outer wetland area.

Plat applicant civil engineer Don Proctor argued the outer buffer reduction from 75 feet to 56 feet was due to the decaying environment. This area, now a grated open space with little vegetation, is slated to support the 0.46 acre stormwater vault. He also said the outer wetland area would be enhanced with more vegetation that will create an overall stronger buffer.

Stenberg was concerned about ground borne vibrations, created when construction crews compress the roads. These vibrations, during previous construction, have shook her house. The city’s consulting engineer, Doug Schlepp, took note of the concerns.

She raised other topics pertaining to traffic safety issues and the loss of the existing neighborhood’s character as more plats are developed in the area.

Her husband echoed these concerns and added his contempt for the Sammamish lighting requirements, which he believes will not mitigate the traffic safety concerns.

About 31 percent of significant trees will be retained on site, which meets Issaquah’s tree retention requirements.

The trees removed from along Southeast 48th Street will be replaced when the  landscaping is planted along the street between a sidewalk and on-street parking.

The developer hopes to break ground, establishing the roads and utility lines, this summer. The hearing examiner’s report will be released in a couple of weeks.