City of Auburn leaders and staff continue to evaluate whether to annex the Bridges neighborhood in Kent, whose City Council is considering a controversial housing development on the property.

The Kent City Council put a temporary halt on the project with a 4-3 vote on March 2 against an ordinance to amend the city’s comprehensive land-use map to allow housing on the 13.2-acre site. Bellevue-based Oakpointe Communities wants to build 150 townhouses on the site.

“We believe that there continues to be value in evaluating the annexation of this neighborhood, but we are also cognizant that there are a variety of complications and costs that deserve attention by all parties,” according to a city of Auburn statement released March 6 to the Kent Reporter.

“This area is an island within our city and while we have an interest in what happens there, we also respect that Kent has a legal obligation to serve those residents and follow the rules that currently apply during this process.

“We remain hopeful and committed to continue this discussion, and that we will be able to come up with creative solutions that create the best outcomes for all involved.”

A few Kent City Council members who voted against the measure said they wanted more information about the land-use change and more time for residents to talk about it. The proposal is expected to be back on the council’s March 16 agenda.

Oakpointe requested the city of Kent change the land use to low density multifamily from urban separator as a first step toward building the units.

Oakpointe constructed the Bridges housing development on the 155-acre site along 124th Avenue Southeast between Southeast 288th and 304th streets.

The 155 acres is part of a “municipal island” in Kent with about 380 homes and 1,000 residents. The land is surrounded by properties that are in the Auburn city limits. Auburn Moutainview High School sits near the development.

Discussion started in 2019 to heat up about Auburn annexing the Bridges development. That caused Oakpointe to delay its proposal for townhouses in case the property changed cities. But Auburn hasn’t shown any progress in annexing the area so Oakpointe decided to ask Kent for the land-use change.