For the fourth time in three months, the Gilman Lofts/Three Trails development agreement was on the Issaquah City Council’s agenda — but this time, it was approved.

The council voted unanimously at the May 1 meeting to enter into a development agreement with Issaquah Studio Lofts, LLC. The agreement will allow Issaquah Studio Lofts to construct a four-story, mixed use building on Northwest Gilman Boulevard, just west of Pogacha’s Restaurant.

Additionally, to accommodate the extra traffic the building will likely bring, a traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Northwest Gilman Boulevard, Northwest Juniper Street and the East Lake Sammamish Trail. The developer will contribute $1 million to cover the cost of the signal, while the city of Issaquah will pay the remaining $375,000.

Economic Development and Development Services Director Keith Niven called the development agreement “an opportunity for partnership where the city could get a $1.4 million asset for $375,000.”

Niven explained that the signal will be a safety improvement for people using the East Lake Sammamish Trail as they cross busy Gilman Boulevard, and will give them a place to cross that directly aligns with the trail.

“The signalized intersection will improve access for pedestrians and bicyclists, will improve vehicular access and does not decrease access for the other northside businesses,” he said.

Without a development agreement, the developer would be required to construct a “C” curb in front of the property. The “C” curb would divide the westbound and eastbound traffic lanes along Gilman in front of the property, and would make the driveway that leads to the development site and the businesses just to the east of it a “right in, right out” driveway, eliminating the possibility of a left turn onto the property from Gilman and vice versa.

“As a developer, we have little choice but to proceed with one of the two options discussed,” stated an April 5 letter from Bob Power, vice president of Gilman Point LLC. “The choice lays with you as to which you prefer: an 11,500 [square foot] retail center with a ‘C’ curb in Gilman, or a Studio Loft project consistent with the city CIP plan and a vastly improved and much safer intersection.”

Several people who own businesses just east of the proposed development site have told the council over the past few months that the “C” curbs would severely inhibit their ability to attract customers and stay in business.

“We really feel that will be very devastating for our tenants … This will be hard on our businesses,” said Jana Ewer of the Paul Lazier Foundation, which owns the Issaquah Auto Stop building.

Councilmembers were sympathetic to the plight of the business owners.

“If a nearby business owner never comes in front of this council and says, ‘That mitigation is going to hurt me,’ that would be fantastic,” Councilmember Paul Winterstein said.

A vote on the agenda bill had been postponed in the past to allow the administration to conduct studies of how the signal would affect traffic and the trail, and to establish guidelines for the development to fit in with the Central Issaquah Plan standards of Urban Design and Architectural Fit with the Community. In order for the development agreement to move forward during the moratorium, the developer’s project will be submitted for review for Urban Design and Architectural Fit.

Having received the requested information, most council members were very supportive of the development agreement.

“Having office space and retail is something very needed in the Central Issaquah Core,” Councilmember Mariah Bettise said. She cited several different aspects of the agreement that would benefit the community, including “trail connectivity, pedestrian safety, car safety, accessing Gilman from Juniper and Rainier,” and traffic flow.

Councilmember Eileen Barber called the trail connection “a marvelous piece.” She also spoke of the signal’s ability to help traffic move faster, noting that she herself had been stuck that day trying to make a left turn from Juniper onto Gilman.

“Signalization is extremely important and very helpful to the flow of what’s going on with that road,” she said.

“I don’t know how a $1 million contribution to a project that’s been on our Transportation Improvement Plan for many, many years is not a very significant community benefit,” Council President Stacy Goodman said.

Councilmember Bill Ramos supported the idea of the development agreement, but did not think that the city should have to cover as much of the cost of the signal.

“For me, the math doesn’t add up,” he said. “I think we could’ve gotten the same project without the city having to put forward as much.”