Vicinity map of the Ironwood development project. (Snohomish County Council)

Vicinity map of the Ironwood development project. (Snohomish County Council)

County Council upholds approval for Bothell-area subdivision

An environmental group appealed the hearing examiner’s favorable decision on the Ironwood proposal.

EVERETT — A project to build an 88-lot subdivision in the Bothell area is advancing, despite concerns a local environmental group has raised.

The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously on Monday to uphold a decision by the county hearing examiner approving the proposed Ironwood development in January.

Pacific Ridge Homes, an affiliate of Texas-based homebuilding giant D.R. Horton, is seeking more permits needed to develop the 16-acre site east of North Road. New roads would connect the subdivision with Bellflower and Clover roads.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The Sno-King Watershed Council maintains that there are major flaws with the proposal, including lapses in the stormwater management plans.

The organization appealed the hearing examiner’s decision to the council. Now it plans to file a petition in King or Snohomish county superior court seeking legal review, said Bill Lider, an engineer who serves on the watershed council board.

Representatives of the developer say the project meets county code requirements and that the watershed council has misrepresented the facts to make its case.

“The one thing I would say (is) that it is hard to win an appeal when the project is designed per Codes and Standards,” Merle Ash, a land use consultant working on the development, said in an email. “Just coming to hearings with an overabundance of technical but deceptively untrue testimony is not going to allow the Council to change a Hearing Examiner’s decision.”

At a hearing before the County Council last week, an attorney for the environmental group argued that the developer failed to properly classify wetlands on the site and used the wrong soil type in environmental modeling — errors that, ultimately, could lead to water quality issues and excessive runoff, the watershed council contends.

The County Council adopted the hearing examiner’s conclusions that the development will not have adverse affects on public welfare or the environment.

“The county’s approval of an application at the preliminary review stage means that, among other things, the project’s design has demonstrated that it can feasibly meet stormwater regulations,” said Councilwoman Megan Dunn during the Monday meeting.

“It is normal and reasonable that additional details are provided as the permitting process continues,” Dunn said, adding that the developer “will need to provide additional information on the wetland hydrology and drainage when seeking approval of its future land disturbing activity permit.”

Hearing Examiner Peter Camp issued several approvals for the project in his decision, including a rezone and a waiver of landscaping requirements meant to provide a buffer between the new construction and surrounding property.

County Planning and Development Services is currently reviewing applications for permits needed for clearing and grading to begin on the site, said department spokesman Jacob Lambert.

A final plat must also be approved, Lambert said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in unincorporated Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former engineer: Snohomish County rushed plans for Eastview development

David Irwin cited red flags from the developers. After he resigned, the county approved the development that’s now stalled with an appeal

Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sewer district notifies Edmonds schools of intent to sue

The letter of intent alleges the school district has failed to address long-standing “water pollution issues” at Madrona K-8 School.

Everett
Man stabbed in face outside Everett IHOP, may lose eye

Police say the suspect fled in the victim’s car, leading officers on a 6-mile chase before his arrest.

A person walks up 20th Street Southeast to look at the damage that closed the road on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
WA delegation urges Trump to reconsider request for bomb cyclone aid

The Washington state congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump on… Continue reading

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

Brian Murril, who started at Liberty Elementary as a kindergartner in 1963, looks for his yearbook photograph during an open house for the public to walk through the school before its closing on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Locals say goodbye to Marysville school after 74 years

Liberty Elementary is one of two schools the Marysville School District is closing later this year to save costs.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray speaks at a round table discussion with multiple Snohomish County agencies about the Trump administrator restricting homelessness assistance funding on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sen. Murray hears from county homelessness assistance providers

In early May, Snohomish County sued the Trump administration for putting unlawful conditions on $16.7M in grant funding.

Gov. Bob Ferguson, at podium, goes to shake hands with state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, at the signing of a bill to make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, on May 2, 2025 in Olympia. At center is Mary Dispenza, a founding member of the Catholic Accountability Project. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)
Bishops sue to overturn new WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse

They argue it is unconstitutional to force Catholic priests to divulge information learned in confession.

DNR removes derelict barge from Spencer Island

The removal was done in partnership with state Fish and Wildlife within a broader habitat restoration project.