Snohomish County Council reinstates ban on dense rural development

The Snohomish County Council today rejected dense residential development in the county's rural areas — again.

The council, which earlier this year had banned such development, today voted 4-to-1 to override a veto of that ban by County Executive Aaron Reardon.

On Aug. 31, Reardon had vetoed the ban and suggested that planned communities would help the county deal with future growth.

Today, the council's override of the veto drew applause from an audience of about 40.

Council members were lobbied over the past 10 days by environmental groups and residents of the Lake Roesiger area, where a development of up to 6,000 homes has been proposed.

Lobbying efforts particularly focused on council member Dave Gossett, who today reversed his earlier support for the planned developments and sided with the Democratic majority in overriding the veto.

Gossett said he received assurances from other council members that his district would not receive a disproportionate amount of future growth. Republican John Koster cast the lone dissenting vote.

In announcing his veto of the council's ban, Reardon said the rural development option was a thoughtful alternative to growth and the result of several years of planning and public review.

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com