Three years ago, a quarter-mile of the Snoqualmie Parkway was widened from two to three lanes to make way for thousands more peak-hour commuters.

Now, the time has come for the city of Snoqualmie to establish a reimbursement area, in which residents in some areas near the Parkway, who develop their land, pay towards that road upgrade.

Creation of the area is part of a latecomers’ agreement reimbursing Quadrant Homes for the $2.9 million road project. The widening went beyond what Quadrant needed to do to serve its development on Snoqualmie Ridge.

“We actually paid for more than our growth,” said Dave Dorothy, Quadrant vice president.

Several Valley residents aired their views on whether they should be included in that reimbursement area at a public hearing, Monday, April 13, before the Snoqualmie City Council.

If residents who live in the reimbursement area develop their property, they would be charged $1,614 per peak hour trip that comes from new construction.

The area includes land inside and outside of city limits on both sides of the Snoqualmie Parkway on the south side of Snoqualmie Ridge, as well as land set aside as potential future school sites.

As council members take into account testimony from last week’s public hearing, they will consider the factors in putting property in or out of the reimbursement area.

For example, due to geography or other factors, there may be some residents that can’t access the parkway, City Attorney Pat Anderson said.

“That’s why we have the hearing,” Anderson said. “Are they in an area that will, if they develop, likely have trips distributed to that part of the parkway?”

The council is expected to make its decision on the final shape of the reimbursement area in May.