Each year, Snohomish County considers docketing requests from property owners who wish to change the use of their land. Docketing is a process long established where the little guy can petition the county for changes to their property that otherwise would entail an expensive and burdensome bureaucratic process.
The county chose to not conduct a docket in 2004 with the understanding that those property owners, who have in many cases paid property taxes for years in hopes of one day improving their property, would be able to do so as part of the 10-Year Comprehensive Plan update.
However, only one of the three comp plan alternatives under consideration (alternative No. 3) offer an avenue for individual docket requests to be heard this year. There are about 80 such requests pending. To now choose an option (alternatives Nos. 1 or 2) that does not honor that commitment would break that promise.
If citizens are denied the opportunity, it could be several more years before they can submit their proposals again. Isn’t it only fair that these property owners have their requests considered? The citizens of Snohomish County deserve to be heard.
The county should adopt alternative No. 3 and let the docket process move forward.
April Lapham
Lynnwood
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