Granite Falls area to get more cluster housing

Published 11:11 pm Monday, June 25, 2007

EVERETT – Six projects that plan to cluster 254 houses on 582 acres on rural land near Granite Falls have been approved by the county’s hearing examiner.

The approval is the latest in a growing trend toward putting more homes per acre in new neighborhoods on rural land.

Martin Robinett proposed each of the six projects near Granite Falls in 2005. Robinett was traveling in China and unavailable for comment.

County rules generally allow one house for every 5 acres in rural areas. The county allows more houses per acre in rural areas when a developer proposes to cluster the buildings and set aside open space.

This kind of housing is in demand, said Mike Pattison of the Master Builders of King and Snohomish Counties.

In urban areas, density is higher, leaving new homes with small yards or low square-footage. On rural land, homes are on bigger properties.

The new Granite Falls developments call for bigger homes on at least an acre of property. More than 280 acres of land will be set aside as open space.

This kind of planning fills a market niche, Pattison said.

“There is still a large segment of our society that want open spaces and large yards,” he said.

“It’s an efficient way to build in rural areas, and a very responsible way to develop because of the large amount of open space set aside.”

Such projects, called rural cluster developments, also have drawn criticism for bringing unwanted levels of traffic and cul-de-sacs to rural areas.

An opposition group in the county called PORCH – People Opposed to Rural Cluster Housing – has called for county rules to be overhauled to preserve rural settings and open space.

The Granite Falls projects include Pilchuck Heights, Cascade Crest, Granite Hills, Forest Park, Timber Trails and Stilly Ridge.

Each of the projects will be built on roads connected to Burn Road.

Since the general area is not served by sewers, the homes will use septic tank systems.

County officials said they are monitoring development trends and are mindful of state Growth Management Act laws that discourage urban neighborhoods in rural areas.

The number of applications for rural cluster housing has risen five-fold in the past three years. Builders and landowners applied for a record high 1,805 lots in 2006. In 2005, the figure was 886, and in 2004 applied for 332.

Another Granite Falls project, St. Andrews, was approved last year for 184 homes on 421 acres. There were 288 acres set aside for open space.

Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.