City could own more land around Lake Stevens by next week

LAKE STEVENS — The city could own more land around the lake here by next week.

The Lake Stevens City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday to vote on the Rhodora annexation.

The request to incorporate 108 acres into Lake Stevens was approved by the state Boundary Review Board for Snohomish County in October. Homeowner Stacy Brewer appealed the decision in Snohomish County Superior Court weeks later. That motion was dismissed earlier this month.

There are four main housing developments in the area. One of those has a homeowners association agreement with an “intent to annex” clause. It gave the city permission to sign in favor of annexation for those who live there.

Because of that, a petition to incorporate the land was endorsed by Mayor John Spencer 29 times. It needed 80 signatures to move forward.

Brewer has lived in the area for more than a decade, but is not part of the homeowners agreement. He doesn’t think the process has been fair to all residents.

Brewer, who was representing himself, appealed the annexation decision in November. He named Spencer, the city and the state review board as parties. Other groups also filed paperwork in the case.

In court documents, Brewer wrote that Spencer had signed the petition for someone who was not part of the homeowners agreement.

Judge Millie Judge dismissed the appeal on Feb. 5.

Brewer on Thursday said he wasn’t sure if he would seek reconsideration from the court. He was worried about spending money to have the request dismissed again.

The next step is for the City Council to vote on an ordinance to incorporate the land into the city, said Russell Wright, the Lake Stevens community development director.

If that happens, the land would follow city code for any new construction. People would be able to give feedback if a contractor applied to build a subdivision. Those permits go through the city hearing examiner.

The Rhodora annexation is southeast of the city, near the Machias Cutoff. There are 133 homes in the area, and nearly three times that many people.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey @heraldnet.com. Twitter: @stephrdavey.