County, builders vie for farmland

EVERETT – Control over a central piece of farmland in the Stillaguamish River Valley is pitting Snohomish County officials against housing builders.

The prize is about 90 acres owned for decades by farmer Orin Barlond.

Barlond appears to have a choice: Sell to builders for hundreds of thousands of dollars, or sell his building rights to the county for a fraction of that but still keep the land in farming.

Officials hope to control which way the dominoes topple. If Barlond’s property becomes suburban housing, other farmland could follow.

If not, the land could be the first property locked up in farming under the county’s transfer of development rights program, which was formally adopted in December. The program targets 3,400 fertile acres north of Arlington for protection.

Barlond said he could “very easily” sell to builders and put houses on his land, but he won’t say how many houses or for what price.

If so, it would jeopardize the county’s effort to protect large tracts of farmland such as Barlond’s.

“If we can consummate a purchase with Barlond, he will keep the underlying land, and we will buy the development rights for that land,” county executive director Tom Fitzpatrick said last week.

The Snohomish County Council has voted to give the county the power to buy Barlond’s right to build houses. Discussions are under way.

Barlond has had several offers and is “fairly close to inking a deal with one of those developers,” County Councilman John Koster said.

“It’s one of the key farms in the center of the valley,” he said.

Barlond has a third option: to sell just the building rights to developers and preserve the land for farming. Under the county program, developers, like the county, can pay a farmer for the rights to build housing, then shift those rights to rural land east of Arlington.

To buy Barlond’s building rights, the county would need to become a middleman and buy the rights with property taxes collected in the name of land conservation. Later, the county could resell the rights to builders for suburban housing in another area.

The Barlond property is the first test of the system.

“The county would be the first to buy these rights,” County Councilman Dave Somers said. “Exactly what these rights are worth is up in the air. What we pay influences the market.”

Any price agreed to would set the tone for future sales of building rights.

Barlond said he joined the county transfer program a year ago for $600, but hasn’t closed a deal. He said the tone of the negotiations with the county is important.

“They have to be sincere,” Barlond said. “I’m a businessman. There’s no real story until the negotiation’s done.”

In the same breath, Barlond said he would sell the land “one way or another,” and then said, “I’d like to keep it” for farming crops.

Ultimately, county officials hope developers and farmers can work out their own deals without the county.

“I hope this works,” Koster said. “I hope the market takes off.”

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

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.