Snohomish County Seeks Innovative Development Projects

Courthouse Journal
Washington State Association of Counties & Washington Association of County Officials
October 6, 2000, Number 24

Snohomish County is inviting housing developers to change the county's own rules. County Councilman Dave Somers sponsored the new program in response to growing scientific evidence that traditional land development methods can result in tremendous costs from creating too much impervious (paved) surfaces. "We want to encourage more new and creative ways to handling stormwater than our building codes and site developments currently provide," said Somers.

"Some of the county's own rules for drainage, road-building and other construction techniques can increase downstream water quantity and quality problems by the amount of impervious or paved surfaces created," said Somers. "We want to demonstrate building and site techniques that reduce or eliminate surface water run-off."

Run-off from traditional types of urban development brings with it increased downstream flooding and more water quality problems. "We all depend upon healthy watersheds," said Somers. "Chinook salmon are only the most visible species being affected right now. All species are affected, as well as downstream property owners."

Earlier this year at Somers' request the County Council authorized a project asking for demonstration developments. The goal is to keep up to 100 percent of a housing development's new drainage discharge from leaving the site. The county program aims to get designers to be creative in using new technology and to encourage developers to leave existing trees and ground cover and add more vegetation where possible to help increase on-site infiltration, thus reducing the amount of impervious and compacted ground surfaces. In exchange, the county will consider deviating from many of its regulations, including road and building requirements, drainage systems, and other typical site development regulations.

Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel also supports the new program. "We know that current building practices aren't as environmentally friendly as they could be," said Drewel, "and we're hoping this demonstration program will encourage innovative ideas for improvements."

The county will not change allowable density. No additional housing units beyond existing zoning rules would be allowed under the demonstration program.

A selection committee composed of planning, engineering, academic and community representatives will review project proposals and recommend deviations from existing county regulations. Projects must demonstrate that a significant (70 - 100 percent) reduction of onsite drainage will result from the design. A recorded site plan will ensure that future owners keep both the built and natural features of the site intact. The county will document projects' drainage performance over time to see if estimated benefits actually occur, and to show which rule changes in the future would be the most beneficial to watersheds.

The program is one of the first of its kind in the country. The county will accept up to five demonstration projects and assign a special review team to coordinate all county permitting.

For more information and a copy of the reduced drainage program rules and selection process, please contact Randy Sleight, Chief Engineering Officer, Snohomish County Department of Planning & Development Services, phone (425) 388-3424, ext 2014, email: Randy.Sleight@co.snohomish.wa.us.