Snohomish County’s work to legalize nearly 200 acres of ball fields is moving ahead with legislation introduced Monday.
If approved, 50 fields built on farmland without permits will become legal.
It isn’t the end of the inning yet for sports clubs, which might face upgrades to bring the fields up to snuff with the county’s rules.
How much they will have to do – and pay – remains unclear.
“Each field will have to be looked at individually,” said Karen Watkins, county senior planner.
Clubs and property owners might have to improve things like parking lots and driveways, or anchor buildings and shacks sitting in the flood plain, Watkins said. Public hearings are expected in coming months.
The county plans to allow two sports seasons – until spring 2008 – for ball clubs to make the changes.
Carol Aichele, president of North Snohomish Little League, said she is glad that the county is moving forward to save her league’s 10 ball fields on a 24-acre property east of Snohomish.
“We feel pretty comfortable about the process,” Aichele said Monday. That should be a relief to about 700 children who belong to the league, she said.
Last year, state law changed to allow some older ball fields to remain on designated farmland.
The County Council and County Executive Aaron Reardon lobbied for the reforms, intended to help kids playing on 39 acres of Snohomish Little League fields. Now the county says the law allows ball fields on another 156.5 acres.
County officials say playing fields to be designated as future recreation land include Stocker Fields, Academy Holdings, Corky Klein Field, South Snohomish Little League, Paintball Field, Ballfield Farm, North Snohomish Little League, Blue Stilly Park Field and Pilchuck Veterinarian Hospital.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
