CATHCART — A park and ride near proposed new homes along Cathcart Way and Highway 9 cleared a major permit hurdle Tuesday.
Snohomish County proposed a park-and-ride lot with 154 spaces on former landfill property at the southwest corner of the intersection. Its address listed in permit documents is 8830 148th St. SE, Snohomish.
Housing developer D.R. Horton got the 16-acre property from the county in exchange for building the park and ride.
Some neighbors opposed the construction of 286 townhomes nearby, but their appeal of the residential development was dismissed in October. They also challenged the proposed park and ride over concerns about additional traffic not being considered, the impact to local wells and improper stormwater facilities.
In January, hearing examiner Peter Camp remanded the conditional use application back to the Snohomish County Planning and Development Services department. He tasked county staff with addressing several questions about who would maintain the property and hold the use permit, management agreements and more.
After the county responded, Camp determined the stated concerns were unfounded and the county had met the criteria to build and operate the park and ride.
Camp also placed several conditions on the use permit. They require landscaping maintenance, a maintenance agreement, preventing glare and light pollution to adjacent properties from installed lighting, frontage improvements, a portable bathroom for bus drivers, security cameras and two spaces for electric vehicles with charging stations.
The conditional use permit is good for 5 years, giving the developer time to build it, and another 2 years if the property stops being used as a park and ride, according to the decision.
Ben Watanabe: 425-339-3037; bwatanabe@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @benwatanabe.
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