City’s newly adopted buffers
in question

Settlement extension has been
agreed upon for now BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR The Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) remains a hot topic, so hot in fact, that the Pilchuck Audubon Society and Futurewise, both environmental organizations, along with local resident, Tom Matlack, filed an appeal last month, to the newly adopted buffers approved by the Lake Stevens City Council last spring.

Their concern is that the city isn’t doing enough to protect the stream, wetlands or the lake from development.

“Futurewise and Pilchuck Audubon Society along with several Lake Stevens citizens and state agencies, urged the city to adopt many of the state guidelines for ‘Best Available Science’ for protection of the city’s streams, rivers, lake and wetlands,” Kristin Kelly, Smart Growth Director for Pilchuck Audubon said.

However, when the Master Builders Association found out about the appeal, they stepped in to support the city and became a party to the case, which gives them Intervener Status.

Mike Pattison, North Snohomish County Manager for Master Builders Association defends the city and the council’s decision to accept the current CAO’s.

“The ordinance that the city passed was more than sufficient to protect critical areas,” Pattison said. “The environmentalists in this case are simply wasting taxpayer dollars and demanding more than is proper.”

Right now both sides have agreed upon a 90-day extension that will allow time for both parties to come to some sort of agreement.

“It basically means let’s try and work things out first,” Pattison stated.

All parties involved are concerned about the water quality for all those in Lake Stevens, forthcoming annexed areas and even the Urban Growth Area but all don’t agree on buffer sizes.

“Some on the council want bigger buffers no matter what,” Pattison said.
Pilchuck Audubon and Futurewise also want to see buffer sizes changed.

“We hope the city will do the right thing and adopt the guidelines that Department of Ecology and Department of Fish and Wildlife have recommended. If the city doesn’t amend the ordinance satisfactorily in November, we will continue with the appeal,” Kelly said.

Master Builders will continue to support the current city ordinance and defend the city if the appeal continues.

“It’s our job to monitor ordinances throughout all of our cities and counties, we feel it is important that someone stand up for the city,” Pattison said.

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