Everett signs contract with Lake Stevens over waterline development

Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 6, 2025

EVERETT — The Everett City Council passed its side of an agreement with Lake Stevens, ending a six-year discussion of what development can happen near Everett’s regional waterline that runs through the southern part of Lake Stevens.

Lake Stevens approved its part of the contract on Oct. 14.

Everett’s regional water system supplies water to approximately 75% of Snohomish County, serving roughly 640,000 people, including the city of Lake Stevens. Three of the city’s transmission lines run through Lake Stevens, but Everett owns the 14-foot-wide maintenance access road that follows the path of the lines through Lake Stevens city limits.

When the transmission lines were built a century ago, the land they ran through was mostly rural. But now, as Lake Stevens continues to grow and develop, the two cities have had to come together to determine where and what type of development can occur near the waterlines without disrupting the critical infrastructure.

“The main thing that needed to happen was a lot of interchange and education on both sides to understand what kind of use or developments of that right away would be safe, acceptable, permissible and appropriate,” said Everett City Council member Ben Zarlingo on Thursday.

Both cities will appoint a contact person for development coordination, and Lake Stevens is required to notify Everett of any construction or development within 50 feet of the corridor. Everett then has 14 days to comment on any permit application.

Any future developments will be set back 10 feet from Everett’s easement line. If Everett acquires more property for additional waterline maintenance, those setbacks will be adjusted to accommodate the new land, according to the interlocal agreement.

The cities will coordinate on upcoming public projects, such as road or utility maintenance and can create project-specific cost-sharing agreements.

In the next year, Everett and Lake Stevens will develop a plan with the Snohomish Public Utility District to move nearby properties off the transmission line and onto PUD’s service.

The contract will last as long as Everett operates its waterlines, but it gives the two cities the ability to temporarily suspend the agreement with written notice. Amendments to the contract must be signed by both mayors.

Eliza Aronson: 425-339-3434; eliza.aronson@heraldnet.com; X: @ElizaAronson.

Eliza’s stories are supported by the Herald’s Environmental and Climate Reporting Fund.