According to Bothell Community Development Director Bill Wiselogle, there are two buildings planned for immediately west of the University of Washington, Bothell and Cascadia Community College campus, one lot removed from Beardslee Boulevard.

According to nearby residents, those buildings could put a damper on the local residential neighborhood, as well as destroy a wooded area, knocking down trees that are home to numerous types of birds, up to and allegedly including, an eagle.

“I’m tired of everything being for sale, just name your price,” said resident Judy Thompson. “Who cares if it ruins the area. Who needs those trees? Who cares if this is a community centered around families?”

Put forward by a private developer, Wiselogle said current plans call for the buildings to cover 32,000 and 26,000 square feet.

By zoning, the structures could hit 65 feet in height, but Wiselogle said plans on the drawing board call for construction topping out at 55 feet.

The development will be set into the hillside, he added, with parking underneath. The buildings will be commercial, but who might sign any leases isn’t clear at this point. Developers did not return a phone call.

While Thompson and others say the city has been unresponsive to their complaints, Wiselogle argues that isn’t anywhere near the case. He said Bothell sent out some 300 notices for hearings regarding the project. After developers made their application, the city completed various reviews, including an environmental-impact study. Eventually, they set two conditions on the construction, conditions Wiselogle said were imposed with residents in mind.

First, developers must install what was described as a dense, buffering landscape system of trees. The vegetation is meant to reduce any lighting or noise reaching nearby residents, as well as providing a better sight line.

Secondly, any lighting in the back of the buildings must be minimal and screened as much as is practical.

“Our staff has certainly been sensitive,” Wiselogle said in regard to resident concerns.

He added developers actually have been asked to go beyond what city codes might otherwise require. Wiselogle contended the city has the right to impose limitations on any development, but also noted property owners have legal development rights.

For her part, Thompson isn’t buying into any safeguards put in place by the city.

“I don’t put very much faith in all this,” she said.

Thompson went so far as to state she will move if and when any construction gets under way.

According to Wiselogle, the development is in the midst of various permit reviews, ranging from engineering to traffic. He couldn’t say how long that review process may last, but added it might be completed by the end of the year. Even if all permits are granted sometime soon, there is no guarantee any construction will begin immediately. Wiselogle noted Bothell doesn’t allow construction to take place during the area’s rainy season unless the developer has a system in place to control any water runoff.