Many grateful for county council decision on growth areas

Published 1:30 am Friday, April 1, 2022

As part of Snohomish County’s 10-year Comprehensive Plan Update, about 22 cities and private citizens petitioned the County Council for Urban Growth Area expansions or upzones, but the council mostly held fast to its own planning services recommendations and Growth Management Act policies and issued majority Do Not Forward votes on most UGA expansion requests.

So, in the cruel paradox of this torrid Snohomish County/I-5 growth spurt, the Growth Management Act and our Snohomish County Council will promote higher densities, more impervious surface, taller buildings, and in-fill in our cities and urban centers, but at the same time protect our watersheds, resource lands, farms, and wildlife habitat in the rural areas.

Many of us are grateful for the thoughtful and careful leadership of our County Council on this huge, complicated, and contentious issue. Thanks to all the county staff and stakeholders for data and testimony, and especially Council Chair Megan Dunn and the Snohomish County Council for holding the line on UGA expansions.

Thomas Matlack

Lake Stevens