The decision by Snohomish County to approve the development plan for the Point Wells project is another example of government out of touch. The hunger for construction related sales tax dollars must have blinded the county to the failings of this plan. Designating this area an Urban Center is absurd. There is only one two lane road providing access to the land.
It’s understandable why Shoreline is upset; access to this project is through their city streets and neighborhoods. It’s hard to imagine how Shoreline will not be adversely impacted by the traffic generated by this development. Even if this land was just developed into neighborhoods similar to what exists in Shoreline already there would be adverse impacts to Richmond Beach.
Increasing density and intensity of use beyond anything that already exists in our county anywhere will create significant adverse impacts Snohomish County will never have to deal with, but Shoreline will.
The land included in this project is part of Woodway’s Urban Growth Area. So doesn’t Woodway have a say in how Snohomish County implements a plan that’s inconsistent with their own? These cities are being trampled on by Snohomish County only because they have the power to do so, rather than the wisdom not to.
I know I didn’t win the County Council election in 2009 so I don’t get to inflict my will upon taxpayers in Snohomish County like Dave Somers is with this project. I suspect that I would have voted different than Councilmember Somers.
This project is another example of why county government should not be allowed to be in the urban development business. It violates the spirit and intent of the Growth Management Act if not the actual language of the act.
I still believe and I am certain that every city in the county would agree that urban development should be planned and executed by cities. The Growth Management Act was clear in its desire for Cities to be the Urban Service providers. Snohomish County continually substitutes its own poor judgment for the judgment of the communities that will be left to accommodate the development. Their disregard for the adverse impacts to neighboring communities is inexcusable.
The greed and arrogance of our Snohomish County government is palpable.
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 9:47 am in Snohomish County Political Commentary | RSS feed
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No Loss for Words
No Urban Center at Point Wells
by Steve DanaThe decision by Snohomish County to approve the development plan for the Point Wells project is another example of government out of touch. The hunger for construction related sales tax dollars must have blinded the county to the failings of this plan. Designating this area an Urban Center is absurd. There is only one two lane road providing access to the land.
It’s understandable why Shoreline is upset; access to this project is through their city streets and neighborhoods. It’s hard to imagine how Shoreline will not be adversely impacted by the traffic generated by this development. Even if this land was just developed into neighborhoods similar to what exists in Shoreline already there would be adverse impacts to Richmond Beach.
Increasing density and intensity of use beyond anything that already exists in our county anywhere will create significant adverse impacts Snohomish County will never have to deal with, but Shoreline will.
The land included in this project is part of Woodway’s Urban Growth Area. So doesn’t Woodway have a say in how Snohomish County implements a plan that’s inconsistent with their own? These cities are being trampled on by Snohomish County only because they have the power to do so, rather than the wisdom not to.
I know I didn’t win the County Council election in 2009 so I don’t get to inflict my will upon taxpayers in Snohomish County like Dave Somers is with this project. I suspect that I would have voted different than Councilmember Somers.
This project is another example of why county government should not be allowed to be in the urban development business. It violates the spirit and intent of the Growth Management Act if not the actual language of the act.
I still believe and I am certain that every city in the county would agree that urban development should be planned and executed by cities. The Growth Management Act was clear in its desire for Cities to be the Urban Service providers. Snohomish County continually substitutes its own poor judgment for the judgment of the communities that will be left to accommodate the development. Their disregard for the adverse impacts to neighboring communities is inexcusable.
The greed and arrogance of our Snohomish County government is palpable.
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Posted on March 6, 2011 at 9:47 am in Snohomish County Political Commentary | RSS feed | Reply | Trackback URL