EVERETT — Lynnwood’s plans to annex thousands of homes to the north, east and south of existing city limits cleared an important hurdle at the Snohomish County Council on Monday.
The council voted 5-0 to let the county executive’s office sign agreements for transferring government services, including road maintenance and police protection.
“It’s been a long time in negotiations,” said Paul Krauss, Lynnwood’s community development director. “It didn’t just happen, it took a very long time to get here.”
There are a few more steps before the area, with more than 3,500 acres and home to 27,000 people, could become part of the city. If that happens, Lynnwood would surpass Edmonds to become the county’s second-largest city, with more than 63,000 residents.
The state Boundary Review Board is scheduled to decide at 6 tonight whether the proposal meets state criteria. If it does, voters get the final say in November.
The land Lynnwood wants to take in includes areas east of I-5 and south of 164th Street SW that could be a point of dispute with Mill Creek, which could stake a claim under growth laws. Lynnwood and Mukilteo have agreed to work on future annexation plans around Meadowdale. No cities have put forward a proposal for the Lake Stickney area surrounded by Everett, Lynnwood and Mukilteo.
Also on Monday, the County Council cleared the way for Lynnwood to take in Maple Precinct, a 33-acre unincorporated island north of 176th Street SW. It includes 99 homes and 288 people. Many residents want to join the city because they don’t want high-density housing developments allowed in unincorporated areas.
Krauss said Maple Precinct could become part of the city as soon as this summer unless there is a petition drive to oppose it.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
