SnoCo pays Lake Goodwin developers

More than three years after the initial application to develop 2,000 acres of land near Lake Goodwin was submitted — followed by an appeal from grassroots conservation group 7-Lakes, an order for a environmental impact review and two lawsuits later — a preliminary plat session for a 41-lot rural cluster subdivision is scheduled with the Snohomish County Hearing Examiner on April 1 at 1 p.m.

This time, the McNaughton Group of Edmonds and Granite Land Co. of California, developers behind Lake Goodwin a Joint Venture LLC, are expecting results.

The original application, one of nine separate permits, was delayed by Hearing Examiner Barbara Dykes. Her order for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the combined 600-home project was overturned in King County Superior Court on Dec. 7.

In February, Snohomish County agreed to pay $90,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Lake Goodwin a Joint Project LLC in January to cover legal fees and holding costs stemming from the EIS order.

Construction is set for spring of 2011 pending permit approval.

In a separate settlement, the county is paying $1.6 million to developer SR9/US2 LLC of Bellevue.

The SR9/US2 LLC proposal included building houses and businesses on 140 acres northwest of the city of Snohomish requiring a zoning change from the county.

Upon a request from the county council, the developers prepared an environmental review for a hearing in 2009. In 2008, the council voted to remove the proposal from the hearing docket.

SR9/US2 LLC took the matter to King County Superior Court in June. A judge ruled in the developers’ favor.

The settlement reached in February reimburses the developers for EIS consulting costs and permit fees paid to the county.

The Snohomish County Hearing Room is located at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett. Hearing examiner agenda items can be viewed at www.co.snohomish.wa.us.

Staff Reporter Adam Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115 or astewart@scnews.com.