The debate over how Snohomish County should grow in its rural and urban areas reaches a public hearing today.
A long list of proposed land-use changes are on the table for the County Council as part of the annual update to the comprehensive plan.
The largest proposal would transform more than 1,000 acres of rural area between the cities of Lake Stevens and Snohomish into urban housing and shopping.
The 50 acres at the Point Wells petroleum transport facility on the Woodway waterfront might become the home of high-end condos under one proposal that still faces scrutiny.
Also, a tweak to the county rules might allow builders near Lake Goodwin to add hundreds of more houses on rural land.
Some property owners and developers are asking permission to build denser housing on a few acres of rural land here and there at the edges of the urban-rural line.
Some property owners want permission to build more houses or apartments per acre on land already within the counties urban areas.
One bid would make 200 acres of rural agricultural land on the Tulalip Reservation into commercial property.
The County Council voted to halt some environmental review on the list recently but is continuing debate.
A vote to launch a detailed review of the proposals is expected this month or next.
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
Growth hearings
The Snohomish County Council scheduled two public hearings today on proposed land-use changes for the county comprehensive plan.
The hearings are 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Drewel duilding, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
Details about the hearings are at www.snoco.org, Click on “council meetings.”
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