Public Forum: Unified Development Code Update Project

Public Forum: Unified Development Code Update Project

Please join us for a discussion of two topics that will lead to amendments to the Snohomish County Unified Development Code (UDC):

1. Urban Centers: Creating welcoming places for pedestrians

2. Forest Practices: County permits for cutting trees

When: Thursday, May 1, 2008*

Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Evening Session: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

*The same agenda is repeated at both sessions.

Where: Snohomish County Campus, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett

Administration Building East, Meeting Room 1

We welcome and invite public feedback and questions. Come share your concerns and make suggestions in the early stages of these important regulatory updates.

1. Urban Centers: Creating welcoming places for pedestrians.

This will be a continuation of discussions begun in UDC Update Public Forums last May and December. Regulations governing the development of Urban Centers most directly affect residents within or near areas designated as Urban Center, Urban Village and Transit/Pedestrian Village in the comprehensive plan. These regulations are of importance to anyone planning to design or build a mixed use/multiple family residential project in an unincorporated urban growth area; cities considering annexing the unincorporated area and public service providers. Currently the County has designated the areas around the following intersections for such development: 164th & I-5; 128th & I-5; State Route 527 and 196th St; State Route 99 and State Route 525; State Route 99 and 152nd St; I-5 and 44th Ave W; and scattered smaller sites throughout the unincorporated Southwest UGA.

Snohomish County planners will lead a group discussion of policy issues and are looking for feedback to help answer key questions captured under several broad themes. Themes to date include public realm, neighborhood compatibility, development character, circulation (roads and sidewalks), and the review process. Additional themes to be explored include density, master plans and allowable uses.

2. Forest Practices: County permits for cutting trees.

The forest practices regulations in RCW 76.09 were changed last year to require a transfer of authority from State of Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to local jurisdictions for the review and permitting of certain types for forest practice activities.

These regulations affect individuals planning to remove trees within the urban growth area or for the purpose of converting the land use from a natural forested condition. The County will be taking over the review and permit issuance responsibilities for all forest practice activities within the unincorporated urban growth areas and for all forest practices related to land conversion countywide.

Snohomish County planners will present an overview of the scope of the forest practice responsibilities shifting from DNR to the County. The presentation will focus on the statutory basis for the shift in jurisdictional responsibility, what types of forest practice activities the County will be responsible for and how the forest practices regulations will be meshed with other regulatory requirements.

UDC Update Project Public Forums are held the first Thursday of each month (unless otherwise noted). Forums are offered in the morning and evening to ensure as much public participation as possible.

For more information or to sign up for monthly or quarterly email notices and news about specific issues pertaining to the UDC Update Project, visit the UDC Update Project web page at www.snoco.org, or call UDC Planning and Development reception at 425-388-3311 ext. 2203 to be directed to a project team member.

For more information or to sign up for monthly or quarterly e-mail notices and news about specific issues pertaining to the Update Project, visit the UDC Update web page or call the UDC Planning and Development reception at 425-388-3311 ext. 2203 to be directed to a project team member.