More public input on county decisions approved

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, June 20, 2001

By Jim Haley

Herald Writer

The public should have a greater voice in Snohomish County government decisions — even those being rushed through the system — thanks to changes made Wednesday.

The Snohomish County Council, caught in a legal maze after a succession of so-called emergency ordinances, changed its rules Wednesday to require public notice and hearings before adopting many such regulations, even if they are deemed emergencies.

The council unanimously approved an ordinance with the changes.

Affected are all zoning, regulations and plans dealing with managing growth.

The county still can act quickly and without a public hearing before adopting a moratorium, but it must hold a public hearing within 60 days of passage under the new regulations.

Both developers and neighborhood leaders who have pushed for better management of growth agreed that greater public discussion of issues is the better course. At the public hearing before passage, both sides praised the proposed action.

Jody McVittie of Lake Stevens, who successfully challenged an emergency ordinance approved by the council last year, said the law will help "engage the public" in the debate. "It’s the thing we need to do because we need to work together to solve the problems of the county," McVittie said.

Problems started in 1999. The council approved an emergency ordinance tightening development regulations in urban growth areas, heavily populated areas near cities. Developers balked. They complained they weren’t given a chance to sway the council at a public hearing.

The county was sued by Housing Partners, an Everett group that builds affordable housing. The suit was settled in June 2000 when the county agreed to consider an ordinance allowing more public discussion before passage of emergency ordinances.

Last July, the council approved another emergency ordinance expanding Arlington’s future growth boundary to allow for inclusion of a new high school there.

This time, McVittie challenged the action before a regional group that hears issues on land-use decisions in the urban area, the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board.

The board slapped the county on the wrist, saying such action violated the state’s 1994 Growth Management Act and needed to allow more public participation, even in most emergency situations.

Under the ordinance passed Wednesday, the council must give 10 days published notice, and also hold a public hearing, before approval of growth plans and development regulations.

"I think the public is well served by the changes in the code," councilman Gary Nelson said.

McVittie, who challenged the Arlington growth boundary expansion because it set bad precedent, said Wednesday’s action is a step forward.

"I thank them for doing the right thing," she said.

You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447 or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.