LAKE GOODWIN – The company planning to build at least 820 homes, and maybe many more, in a rural area north of the Tulalip Indian Reservation is undeterred by a couple of recent setbacks.
On the other side, the leader of the group that’s fighting the development is encouraged by County Council decisions that caused those setbacks.
The fight goes on.
The McNaughton Group of Edmonds asked Snohomish County to add another 390 homes on four acres, adding a “rural village” to its original plan.
The County Council on Monday killed the request. The rule changes would have required an extensive review to determine if changes to the county’s long-term plans could be made in the next review cycle. Staff determined they couldn’t.
“We consider it just a really exciting day for Seven Lakes and for all of Snohomish County,” said Ellen Hiatt Watson, leader of the opposition group 7-Lakes.
Brian Holtzclaw, attorney for the McNaughton Group, issued a written statement on Wednesday.
“We look forward to continuing to work with council and staff on a rural village concept for the property,” Holtzclaw said in the statement. He said the company hasn’t seen the staff report on its request and he declined comment on any details.
“We hope to bring a more specific development proposal for consideration in the months ahead,” he said, without elaborating.
The company has said it could expand its plans and build a mini-city of up to 6,000 homes. The County Council, however, also voted to study the possibility of eliminating the law that allows mini-cities, or “fully contained communities,” as they’re also called.
Under state and county laws, the mini-cities are allowed if they contain businesses and retail to support the residents who live there. One such community of up to 6,000 people is proposed for Lake Roesiger, east of Lake Stevens and Snohomish.
Additionally, the council voted to look at reducing the density allowed in “rural clusters,” the concept on which the McNaughton Group’s original plan was based. The 820 homes would come in 13 clusters, in which homes may be built closer together in exchange for setting aside open space elsewhere in the development.
A third study approved by the county is to determine whether growth management rules would allow the county to change the way it directs development into rural areas. Right now, the county plans for 15 percent of the population to live in rural areas. The council wants to reduce that to 10 percent.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
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