Supreme Court ruling clears way for Dwayne Lane’s Island Crossing plans

Published 2:48 pm Thursday, October 9, 2008

ARLINGTON — Nearly 15 years after he first tried to build a car dealership on land he owns along I-5, Dwyane Lane finally got the go-ahead today.

The state Supreme Court voted 6-3 that he can build a dealership on farmland he owns at Island Crossing, west of Arlington. The decision paves the way for the City of Arlington to annex 110 acres of land that includes Lane’s 15 acres.

The controversy has bounced between courts for years.

The Supreme Court decision affirms an appellate court ruling from last April. That ruling reversed a 2005 Snohomish County Superior Court decision that found that a movement by landowners and the city of Arlington to annex and urbanize Island Crossing violated the state’s Growth Management Act.

The city, Snohomish County and Lane all appealed the decision and won.

Then the state appealed to the state Supreme Court.

Justice Richard Sanders wrote the majority opinion for the court, with four justices concurring.

Chief Justice Gerry Alexander joined justice Barbara Madsen and Debra Stephens in the dissent opinion. They argued the farmland should not be included in Arlington’s growth area.

The majority opinion can be found here: http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/index.cfm?fa=opinions.showOpinion&filename=803951MAJ.