EVERETT — Two Snohomish County Council members recused themselves Friday from an earlier decision approving plans for off-road motorcycle tracks near Granite Falls.
When the votes were counted Friday, the proposal was approved 3-0, not the 4-1 vote from Monday.
The new vote came because councilmen Ken Klein and Terry Ryan removed themselves to avoid an appearance of unfairness.
Track opponents had objected to hundreds of emails track supporters sent council members before their first vote. Also on Monday, several motocross enthusiasts carried signs to a hearing urging a vote in their favor.
Opponents argued the council wasn’t allowed to accept new information and was supposed to be acting in a quasi-judicial capacity, making a neutral decision on whether a hearing examiner had ruled correctly by approving track plans in December.
Council Chairman Dave Somers voted against the track Monday, but switched his vote Friday. While uncomfortable with parts of the examiner’s decision, Somers said he was more concerned about keeping a requirement to build a sound berm before any construction moves ahead.
MXGP of Kirkland since 2007 has been trying to build a motocross complex on 437 acres of forestland owned by Portland, Oregon, company Bascom Pacific. Appellants include Martin Robinett, Ginger Amundson, and a consortium of conservation groups.
The council’s decision can be appealed to in Superior Court.
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