EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council on Wednesday upheld a decision from earlier this year to approve plans for subdivision next door to the Songaia community in the Bothell area.
Residents of Songaia, a neighborhood that prizes shared living space and environmental sustainability, had challenged county hearing examiner Peter Camp’s ruling in June that granted a rezone and other approvals to Crestmont Place, a 25-home development.
The council voted 4-1 Wednesday to deny the appeal. Council Chairman Terry Ryan cast the “no” vote.
Issues at stake included the required width of a buffer between the properties and whether wetlands on the roughly 4-acre property had been classified properly. Songaia residents have said they’re not opposed to the neighboring development, but want to make sure it respects the environment and complements their existing community.
The area in question is northeast of where 39th Avenue SE meets 228th Street. It’s part of the rapidly urbanizing North Creek area of unincorporated Snohomish County. That neighborhood is currently the strongest market for new homes in Washington state.
More than three dozen people live in Songaia, where homes are arrayed around a commons and shared garden. Part of the 12-acre property is set aside as woods.
Pacific Ridge is a formerly local company that’s now part of national homebuilder D.R. Horton. The developer also is seeking to build a 54-home subdivision called Parkview Ridge on 9.5 acres immediately to the south of Songaia. The hearing examiner on Aug. 5 granted approval to Parkview Ridge. Songaia filed an appeal that the County Council is scheduled to consider Sept. 28.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
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