Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Snohomish County may ban rural mini-cities
One such development, proposed for west of Lake Roesiger, would include 6,000 homes and 1,500 acres of open space.
The clock is winding down for anyone wanting to build a mini-city in Snohomish County's rural areas, including a controversial proposal west of Lake Roesiger.
The county is considering slamming the door on all applications for mini-city developments -- called fully-contained communities.
A hearing tonight of the county Planning Commission will weigh the pros and cons of the proposal to suspend acceptance of development applications through Dec. 31, 2009.
Turning away applications was proposed by a majority on the County Council as a way to head off a plan to build 6,000 houses west of Lake Roesiger.
The Falcon Ridge project is proposed by Dave Barnett, who owns 3,000 acres of timberland there. He has initially proposed building a golf course, houses, shops and offices on the land and setting aside 1,500 acres of open space.
Environmental activists opposed to the project are expected to turn out for tonight's hearing, as well as Barnett's representatives.
"The moratorium, I think, is absolute political grandstanding," said George Kresovich, Barnett's attorney.
County Executive Aaron Reardon said as much in April after the council voted 3-2 to send the moratorium proposal to the planning commission.
The County Council can vote down any applications after they're filed, so there's no need to turn them away, Kresovich said.
Also, repealing the rules after three years of careful consideration is bad public policy, Kresovich said in a letter to planning commission chairman Bill Diepenbrock.
Fully-contained communities are a type of rural development allowed by the county and the state Growth Management Act. County rules require at least 2,000 acres be available, and half the land must be set aside as open space.
Developments that are planned out in detail like Barnett's plan are superior to piecemeal housing, Kresovich said.
The planning commission was asked to make a recommendation on the moratorium proposal before the County Council votes. Barnett's planners have met with planning commission members to educate them on fully contained communities in hopes they will recommend rejection of the moratorium, Kresovich said.
Despite about two years of development analysis of his land, Barnett might never get the chance to file an application. County Council chairman Dave Somers said he plans to strip out regulations the county adopted in 2005 that allow fully contained communities.
He has repeatedly railed against such developments in rural areas because they are away from services and force people to drive farther.
Fully contained communities have no place in Snohomish County, said Kristin Kelly, spokeswoman for Futurewise and Pilchuck Audubon Society.
"We have plenty of land in cities and urban growth areas," she said. "With global warming and the Puget Sound cleanup, we shouldn't be putting new cities out where people have to drive for everything they need to do."
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
Hearing tonight
What: Snohomish County Planning Commission hearing on a proposal to refuse applications for fully contained communities
When: During the commission's meeting at 6 tonight
Where: Drewel Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
More information is at www.snoco.org by searching for "planning commission."
The county is considering slamming the door on all applications for mini-city developments -- called fully-contained communities.
A hearing tonight of the county Planning Commission will weigh the pros and cons of the proposal to suspend acceptance of development applications through Dec. 31, 2009.
Turning away applications was proposed by a majority on the County Council as a way to head off a plan to build 6,000 houses west of Lake Roesiger.
The Falcon Ridge project is proposed by Dave Barnett, who owns 3,000 acres of timberland there. He has initially proposed building a golf course, houses, shops and offices on the land and setting aside 1,500 acres of open space.
Environmental activists opposed to the project are expected to turn out for tonight's hearing, as well as Barnett's representatives.
"The moratorium, I think, is absolute political grandstanding," said George Kresovich, Barnett's attorney.
County Executive Aaron Reardon said as much in April after the council voted 3-2 to send the moratorium proposal to the planning commission.
The County Council can vote down any applications after they're filed, so there's no need to turn them away, Kresovich said.
Also, repealing the rules after three years of careful consideration is bad public policy, Kresovich said in a letter to planning commission chairman Bill Diepenbrock.
Fully-contained communities are a type of rural development allowed by the county and the state Growth Management Act. County rules require at least 2,000 acres be available, and half the land must be set aside as open space.
Developments that are planned out in detail like Barnett's plan are superior to piecemeal housing, Kresovich said.
The planning commission was asked to make a recommendation on the moratorium proposal before the County Council votes. Barnett's planners have met with planning commission members to educate them on fully contained communities in hopes they will recommend rejection of the moratorium, Kresovich said.
Despite about two years of development analysis of his land, Barnett might never get the chance to file an application. County Council chairman Dave Somers said he plans to strip out regulations the county adopted in 2005 that allow fully contained communities.
He has repeatedly railed against such developments in rural areas because they are away from services and force people to drive farther.
Fully contained communities have no place in Snohomish County, said Kristin Kelly, spokeswoman for Futurewise and Pilchuck Audubon Society.
"We have plenty of land in cities and urban growth areas," she said. "With global warming and the Puget Sound cleanup, we shouldn't be putting new cities out where people have to drive for everything they need to do."
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
Hearing tonight
What: Snohomish County Planning Commission hearing on a proposal to refuse applications for fully contained communities
When: During the commission's meeting at 6 tonight
Where: Drewel Administration Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
More information is at www.snoco.org by searching for "planning commission."
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