The Bel-Red corridor is set to be the next big growth sector in the city, but that is a long time out. And the city is attempting to make sure the area remains viable for businesses between now and when big redevelopment is completed in the later half of the next decade.

Monday, staff briefed the council on the activity in the area, which is set to feature a centerpiece development that includes housing, office, transit and entertainment options over the next 15 years.

Currently, the Bel-Red area is a the home of a number of different types of businesses: medical offices, research and development businesses, retail, manufacturing and sports facilities among others. With the zoning changes that came with an immense policy creation of the Bel-Red Plan in 2009 to emphasize density growth and integration with East Link light-rail, many of these types of businesses would no longer be allowed. But until some of these new developments – a new site for Children’s Hospital, the mixed-use Spring District – are complete, the city wants business to remain stable. Under city code, current uses, such as industrial businesses are allowed to keep the doors open, but new businesses that don’t fit the new zoning code are not allowed in.

At the meeting Monday, staff and council mulled extending a grace period where new businesses can inhabit existing buildings under old zoning code to make sure the area doesn’t fall flat while it waits for redevelopment. Currently, a business under the old zoning has 12 months to fill a vacant building.

“It’s important that the area remains healthy during this transition, as it’s going to take decades before all the big moves are made,” said Bellevue Deputy Director of Planning Dan Stroh.

At least for the last decade, the Bel-Red area has been more than healthy. It features lower vacancy rates in retail, office and industrial buildings than the average throughout the city, according to city figures.

Councilmembers were split on how to handle the issue. Some wanted to leave the plan alone, and let the economy sort itself out. Others wanted to extend the grace period to 24 or 36 to encourage businesses to invest in the area.

No action was taken at the meeting, and city staff will look at the possible effects of extending the grace period.