News from Snohomish County Council

I will continue to send out eNewsletters whenever there is important news, such as the upcoming public hearing on proposed Urban Design Standards for new construction in our neighborhoods - see below.

Please contact me at 425-388-3494, or e-mail me at Dave.Gossett@snoco.org if you have questions, comments or concerns.

IMPORTANT MEETING

Improving Urban Design Standards & Retaining Trees

Snohomish County Planning Commission

Tuesday, April 22 5:45 pm

Public Hearing Room, First Floor

Robert J. Drewel Building (Admin East)

At their upcoming meeting, the Snohomish County Planning Commission will be considering changes to the county's urban residential design standards for developments within the county's unincorporated urban growth boundaries.

"Urban design standards are crucial to making growth fit into our neighborhoods," said Councilmember Dave Gossett. "The garage should not be the dominate feature of the home. Building heights and roof lines need to do a better job of matching the existing neighborhood."

Proposed new chapters in the county code include changes in both site design and building design and also accommodate additional forms of design standards. The proposed changes allow builders to choose between varieties of features. Design options include placing the garage door to the rear of the house or setting it back from the front facade of the house, to reduce the dominance of the garage. Other design features such as porches, cantilevers, dormers, and varied roof heights will also be required to provide variation in home style to create a more appealing neighborhood.

Tree Retention

"Neighborhoods need trees and open space," Gossett said. "The county is finally going to adopt rules requiring the retention and replacement of trees and much needed changes in open space requirements".

The proposed ordinance requires that all significant trees (those larger than a 10-inch caliper) be retained within required landscape areas and critical areas and buffers. Other significant trees on the site must be either retained or replaced. All developments with over seven units must also meet greater open space standards.

"I've been pushing for more comprehensive design standards and a meaningful tree retention ordinance for years," said Gossett. "The ordinance under consideration is a good starting point, but more work may need to be done after we hear from the public on these critical issues. I hope the county council can move quickly and have an ordinance adopted in the next few months."

The Planning Commission hearing provides an opportunity for the public to comment on the new regulations. To review a copy of these proposals view the Planning Commission Agenda. Key sections dealing with tree retention and replacement are 30.25.015 and .016, pages 11-13. Key sections on building design are 30.23A.030-.090, page 7.

To comment on the proposed urban design standards changes, please e-mail Councilmember Dave Gossett at dave.gossett@snoco.org and visit the Planning Commission's Comment Page and mention "Urban Design" in the first line.

County Council Approves Pilot Graffiti Abatement Program

The county council has approved the establishment of a demonstration program to encourage property owners to quickly remove graffiti from private properties, while also evaluating the extent of such vandalism and investigating additional remedies.

The ordinance does not include penalties against property owners who do not or cannot afford to remove graffiti from their property, as a previous version of the ordinance had proposed.

Read the complete story

Brightwater Mitigation Funds

'Brightwater' park grows by almost 4 acres

A recently purchased 9-acre future community park near the Brightwater wastewater treatment plant has grown by almost 4 more acres fronting on 228th Street. SE - see photo. As with the original and adjacent property, this purchase was paid for with Brightwater mitigation funds. Branch2

As noted in an earlier eNewsletter, the county is also planning to construct several pedestrian walkways/sidewalks and bicycle lanes in the area, further enhancing public access to this park. A walkway and bicycle lane will be built along 228th Street from 39^th Ave to Highway 9, and a walkway/sidewalk will be built on 45th Ave. from 212th St to 240th St., Engineering for these walkway and bicycle lane projects is scheduled
to begin this year, with all construction
expected to be completed in 2012.

Public Meeting April 22nd

Citizen input sought on new park

Residents, especially those living near 228th St. SE and 45th Ave. SE, are encouraged to attend a public meeting Tuesday, April 22 to discuss the future of this park site

The public meeting will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will be held at the Snohomish County Parks Office, located at the Willis D. Tucker Community Park, 6705 Puget Park Dr., Snohomish, WA 98296.

As a community park development it will include a mix of recreation opportunities designed to serve area residents. Neighbors are asked to provide input into the types of recreational facilities they would like to see included in the park.

Written comments may be sent to Parks at the above address or by e-mail to: sharon.swan@snoco.org.

Councilmember Dave Gossett said King County agreed to provide a total $70 million to mitigate the impact of the Brightwater plant, with $30.4 million dedicated to parks and recreational projects, $25 million for public safety improvements (including walkways), $10.8 million for habitat mitigation and about $3 million for the construction of a community resource center.

Snohomish County is spending about $2.7 million on the two properties. This is the first Parks acquisition funded by Brightwater money with another site pending. Additional properties are being evaluated and may be acquired as well.

The treatment plant, expected to open in 2011, will serve residents in both counties.

Pedestrian safety projects planned for east side of Martha Lake

Snohomish County is preparing to build a continuous pedestrian facility along the east side of East Shore Drive and along the south side end of the road where it turns into 155th Street SW/SE, as well as along the east side of 2nd Ave W to the Martha Lake Airport park property.

This project will connect existing portions of sidewalk along East Shore Drive, 2nd Avenue W, 155th Street SE/SW and will construct new sidewalks or walkways as appropriate.

The first project is scheduled for this summer. A sidewalk will be constructed from the south end of East Shore Drive, along the east side, to 155th Street SW. The proposal also includes widening East Shore Drive to accommodate the sidewalk, a planter strip and parking.

The sidewalk will continue along the south side of 155th Street SW from East Shore Drive eastward to Cascadian Way, and along the east side of 2nd Avenue West, from 155th north to Lakeview Road.

See the complete Project Description .

I hope you found this eNEWSLETTER to be informative and useful. You can make it even more valuable by suggesting topics and issues for future newsletters. Please contact me at 425-388-3494, or e-mail Dave.Gossett@snoco.org. If you would like to share this newsletter, select the Forward email link below.

Sincerely,

Dave Gossett
Snohomish County