EVERETT – Rules meant to improve the appearance of a controversial style of low-density housing development were introduced Tuesday by the Snohomish County Council.
The targeted developments in some cases had narrow streets, no sidewalks and no open space, County Councilman Dave Gossett said.
Several cities called for the county to ban the housing projects after they began popping up just outside city limits. City officials said they might not annex such developments.
The county doesn’t currently have any design rules for house appearances, so Gossett convened a work group of builders to draft legislation.
Proposed county standards for windows, roofs, siding, driveways, streets, sidewalks and garages are intended to ease the concerns of city officials.
Health district approves $20.1 million budget
The Snohomish Health District on Tuesday approved a $20.1 million budget for next year, which adds nearly eight staff positions.
The added staff positions include two new employees to work in the agency’s sexually transmitted disease program and two office assistants to help process well, septic tank and restaurant inspection permits and inspections.
The positions also include one full-time and one part-time employee to work in a program that helps mothers and new babies; one full-time and one part-time employee to expand a community health program under way in Marysville; and a part-time job in the business office.
The budget also increases an epidemiologist position from part-time to full-time.
In addition, about $200,000 more will be spent next year to pay for vaccines for the public, and two new cars will be bought for the countywide public health agency.
Those expenses, plus the cost of the new positions, add up to about $450,000.
Lynnwood: Learn about new high school
An open house about a new $90 million Lynnwood High School on North Road is scheduled for tonight.
The meeting is planned for 7 p.m. at the Martha Lake Elementary School gym, 17500 Larch Way, Lynnwood.
The high school was the cornerstone of the $140 million bond measure voters passed in February.
The school, which will be built for 1,600 students, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. About two-thirds of the $90 million project’s cost is construction.
From Herald staff reports
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