County Council to resume rural rezoning discussions in April
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, December 6, 2017
BOTHELL — The Snohomish County Council on Wednesday deferred until spring a controversial decision about rezoning some rural properties in the Bothell area for urban growth.
The issue involves about 300 acres along 43rd Avenue SE in the unincorporated North Creek area. The road is set to be widened into a north-south arterial during the next five years.
Two groups of property owners want the county to upzone their land for denser development instead of its current rural zoning.
Approval at this stage would only green-light further study, not automatically change the zoning. The final decision would come in 2019.
The proponents live on the edge of the state’s fastest-growing area.
They’re frustrated with traffic and other effects of the nearby development, while they remain sidelined from cashing in on the housing boom. Others worry that pushing the growth line farther east could bring those same problems to their doorstep.
The council also has heard from people concerned about proposals to down-zone their urban land for rural uses, making it much less valuable.
The council is scheduled to resume the discussion at 10:30 a.m. April 11. The delay will allow county staff more time to study relevant land-use policies and work with homeowners on a solution.
