City of Shoreline, Town of Woodway, and Save Richmond Beach to appeal zoning regulations for urban centers

The three petitioners in the Growth Management Hearings Board appeal of Snohomish County’s “Urban Center” designation for Point Wells are all planning to also appeal the zoning regulations that dictate how an urban center can be developed.
 
 Save Richmond Beach, the City of Shoreline, and the Town of Woodway are making common cause in their concern about the development of Point Wells.

Save Richmond Beach believes that one-size does not fit all when establishing zoning for dense developments. This was supported by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) in their analysis of the zoning regulations that the Snohomish County Council passed regardless of the concerns of the ULI and the surrounding jurisdictions.

The Snohomish County Council also likely violated public participation requirements by closing the record and not allowing comment on substantive new changes to the zoning regulations.
 


The jurisdictions that surround Point Wells are collaborating on an interlocal agreement (ILA) that would limit the development at Point Wells. The City of Shoreline is most concerned with  traffic impacts and the ongoing maintenance of roads and parks, while Woodway has included provisions that would protect their town’s quality of life and view corridor.

 The next step is to present the ILA to Snohomish County. They do not, however, have to agree to the terms of the agreement.
 

Information from SaveRichmondBeach.org

Photo courtesy City of Shoreline