Published September 2003

County approves zoning change at Island Crossing

By Brian Kelly
Herald Writer

The Snohomish County Council stuck a fork in one hot potato, but will keep juggling another.

On a 4-1 vote Aug. 13, the council approved auto dealer Dwayne Lane’s proposal to urbanize Island Crossing at I-5 west of Arlington. But on another controversial development proposal, the council deferred until next year a decision that would allow “fully contained communities.”

Both proposals have been closely watched.

Lane wants to move his Arlington auto dealership to a high-profile freeway site, but the zoning change could also mean Costco-style stores, hotels and retail centers on the flood-prone farmland.

After a 4-1/2-hour hearing on land-use proposals, the council approved the change, which also means Arlington’s urban growth area will grow by 110.5 acres. Councilman Dave Gossett cast the lone dissenting vote.

Earlier, the council decided to resume debate next year on whether it should allow fully contained communities in the county.

The developments, which have spurred bitter growth battles in other parts of the state, are pre-planned towns covering thousands of acres, with hundreds of homes and apartments, businesses, parks and nature trails.

Supporters of the new communities said approving a policy allowing the new towns would give planners another tool to guide growth in the county.

Others, however, said the costs would be substantial to improve roads and supply services to residents of the new communities. Existing residents would subsidize the growth, they said. And the developments wouldn’t be truly self-contained, leading to more traffic congestion in the rural parts of the county where the new towns would be built.

The council voted 3-2 to postpone a decision on fully contained communities until next year. Council members Jeff Sax and John Koster voted against delaying the decision.

Councilman Gossett said the county needs more details, including a look at how new regulations would handle traffic and other infrastructure problems caused by the new 2,000-acre communities.

Back to the top/September 2003 Main Menu