Nearby residents opposed to the proposed Emerald Pointe condominiums overlooking Seahurst Park got what they wanted from the Highline School Board on Sept. 10 but the developer's consultant said the project will go forward.

Board members unanimously accepted Westmark Development's request to withdraw its proposal to buy or obtain an easement for a portion of property at the old Burien Heights school site.

Westmark wanted the property for a road to the planned condominiums.

The property at 1210 S.W. 136th Street has been leased to NAVOS, formerly known as Highline West Seattle Mental Health, which plans to build a new mental health facility there.

NAVOS currently occupies a site at the old Sunny Terrace school at 1010 S. 146th St. Officials want to move the facility out from under the flight path of the new third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport.

Friends of Seahurst Park, a citizens group of neighboring residents, and the Sound Vista Homeowners Association, representing owners in a nearby condominium complex, had lobbied hard against the proposed sale or easement.

Marvin Jahnke told board members his citizens group had collected a total of 706 signatures on a petition opposing Westmark's request. Jahnke had addressed the board about the project at most of its meetings during the past few months.

The district hosted a public hearing, hired a geotechnical consultant, and held an hour-long executive session while examining the request.

Board member Michael Spear said the project would not be beneficial to the district and indicated there could be future problems.

Board president Julie Burr said the board is mostly focused on promoting student academic achievement but also wants to be "stewards of our resources including the community.

"We need the community behind us and, now, we want to be behind the community," Burr declared.

Vice President Bernie Dorsey recalled a speaker at the public hearing who said the board's decision would be its "moment of integrity."

"I like to think the board has upheld its moment of integrity," Dorsey added.

Some audience members applauded after the board members' remarks.

Contacted after the vote, Westmark consultant Robert Thorpe said he had sent an e-mail to the district asking for a postponement of the decision or the withdrawal of the request because he didn't want to put the board in a "referee position."

Though opponents thought a rejection from the school district would kill the project, Thorpe said the condominiums will be built using another entry point.

Complaining about misinformation from Emerald Pointe opponents, Thorpe said a new route will be a little more expensive for the developer. He added some evergreen trees the developer hoped to preserve will have to be destroyed for the new entry.

He emphasized that West mark will continue to cooperate with the district on landscaping and other improvements between the Burien Heights and Emerald Pointe sites. Thorpe said the developer had offered $200,000 in improvements as part of the sale or easement deal.

Westmark still needs approval of building permits from the city of Burien before construction can begin, Thorpe added.

District teacher recruiting director Nancy Pappas Barnhart also briefed board members on Burien's teacher housing program.

She said the city received a state grant to provide $250 a month for up to two years to help new teachers pay for housing in Burien.

Twelve teachers are currently in the program while another eight teachers have applied for the remaining slots, according to Barnhart.

The slots are targeted for hard-to-fill teaching positions and out-of-state recruits, she added.

In other business, Spear observed that in going through district vouchers he noticed the city of Des Moines charges much more for building permits than other municipalities.

Assistant Superintendent Geri Fain said Des Moines' fee structure is higher but the city includes items in its permits that other governmental entities do not.

Superintendent John Welch offered to set up a meeting between district and Des Moines officials to discuss construction permits for schools.

The district opened the newly rebuilt Midway Elementary in Des Moines when classes resumed earlier this month.

A grand opening celebration for Shorewood Elementary in Burien will take place Sept. 18.