EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council voted 5-0 Wednesday to remove itself from the process of approving new subdivisions, a step that could help bring new homes on the market a couple of weeks sooner.
The county’s planning department will issue final approvals for newly created building lots. That’s expected to save time by eliminating scheduling delays at the council level.
The change comes during a frenzied housing market. Real estate professionals say there’s only a one-month supply of homes for sale right now, far less than the ideal six months’ supply in a healthy market.
Opponents of the change argued that the county was removing important checks and balances on the planning department, which they say sides too often with developers. Proponents said people still will have the same ability to scrutinize building projects and raise objections.
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