‘Green’ groups, a valuable asset to a community
I fail to understand how one jurisdictional court can overrule another. Take the case of the McNaughton Group of developer’s attempt to build a rural cluster subdivision near Lake Goodwin.
King County Superior Court overturned Snohomish County Hearing Examiner Barbara Dykes’ decision to delay permit approval subject to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in December. Earlier this month Snohomish County was ordered to pay restitution of $90,000 to McNaughton for legal fees. An order for an EIS seemed a fair and practical step before the clearing of 2,000 acres began, which was not ordered beforehand, but certainly prior to an estimated 600 homes being built.
Though the 7-Lakes grassroots’ organization worked tirelessly to prevent such a large development in a rural area and raised thousands of dollars to do so, moving the appeal to King County limited the resources to fight it, said Ellen Hiatt Watson, president of 7-Lakes. “We left it to the county to defend its own hearing examiner’s decision. They did a poor job of it.”
McNaughton Group says it plans to begin building next year. Still, the infrastructure cannot support the water needed for 600 homes, making it necessary to pipe water in from Everett. And although the main thoroughfare around the seven lakes west to Frank Waters’ Road is currently being improved, it will remain a two-way road. The development translates at full build out to about 1,200 additional vehicles jockeying for space.
The appeal should have been handled in the county it was to effect. King County does not have to worry about the impact. The process reminds me of when a child doesn’t get the answer they want from one parent and then attempts to manipulate the other parent for the desired outcome. In this case, it worked.
Nonetheless, 7-Lakes’ efforts weren’t all for not. The group became the planning department’s watchdogs.
With continued budget cutbacks in counties around the state, it will be groups like 7-Lakes that will force planners to dot their I’s and cross their T’s, even if the legal system later throws out the decision.
Like Hiatt Watson said to her group members recently after Snohomish County was ordered to pay the developer’s legal fees, “We had an impact here. The die is not cast. We will continue to defend our community’s rights.”
I applaud 7-Lakes, and groups like it, for standing up for what they believe is right. After all, if it weren’t for an organized group of citizens, we would have an oil refinery on the Port Susan Bay shore where Kayak Point Regional Park sits today. Thanks to all you green warriors out there. We owe you.
– Kelly Ruhoff
Editor
