Proposed neighborhood near Tulalip may have another chance

MARYSVILLE — A proposed neighborhood of about 170 houses near the Tulalip Indian Reservation may have another chance.

In November, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge said the development couldn’t move forward as drafted. The potential contractor asked to send the plan back to the city to make some changes. The judge granted that request last month.

The nearly 60-acre property is at 3211 140th St. NE. That’s on the border of the reservation, in northwest Marysville. It’s owned by The Grove Church, though a Texas company called LGI Homes hopes to buy the land. The Tulalip Tribes has tried to block the proposed neighborhood.

The land is worth about $5 million, according to the church. That money would go toward renovations to its parish on Grove Street.

Marysville’s hearing examiner approved the out-of-state developer’s land-use permit application last May.

The tribes appealed the decision in Superior Court weeks later. They were worried about traffic, pollution to West Fork Quilceda Creek and endangered salmon populations.

Judge Marybeth Dingledy reversed the city’s decision. She was concerned about exemptions to wetland buffers, and suggested finding another entrance into the proposed development.

That’s when the contractor asked to send back the blueprints. Dingledy authorized the request Jan. 14.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.