Council correct to curb more growth

This letter is a big thank you to our County Council for its recent vote on Docket XIII, the annual amendment process to the county's comprehensive plan's land use and zoning and policies. (Tuesday article, "County says no to rural development").

I applaud the council, under the leadership of Chairman Dave Somers, who through their votes showed the citizens of this county that they do listen to concerns regarding how growth has negatively impacted our communities and our rural and resource lands. Despite heavy pressure from developers to expand urban growth boundaries, the council held the line on unnecessary urban sprawl development that pollutes our water, costs taxpayers more in roads and sewer, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

While we all know that land use decisions are never forever set in stone, the council apparently gets it that they need to be judicious with our tax dollars by doing more comprehensive planning and sub-area planning during our 10-year updates, and not continually entertaining huge revisions to our land use every year. Thank you again, Chair Somers and the County Council, for working for the public good.

Kristin Kelly
Snohomish County/Skagit County Program Director
Smart Growth Direct, Pilchuck Audubon Society
Snohomish