City of Lake Stevens Myth Versus Fact: Southern UGA Expansion

From City public workshops:

The Myth: The City of Lake Stevens Proposal is "aggressive or unwarranted."

Fact: Lake Stevens has included the project areas its planning for the past 15 years.

The Myth: The City of Lake Stevens proposal is "developer driven."

Fact: Lake Stevens has been planning in the area for the past 15 years. No developer is involved. The City is asking the citizens for their vision of the future of this area.

The City of Snohomish application to expand the UGA was proposed by a developer; the City of Snohomish joined int the application later in partnership with the developer.

Myth: Lake Stevens doesn't need more land.

Fact: Lake Stevens completed a Buildable Lands Analysis in conjunction with the Snohomish County's effort in 2006-2007. Results show the City of Lake Stevens does not currently have the land capacity to accommodate its mandated jobs target.

The City of Lake Stevens is working with the County to increase the job target for a more sustainable future and to create land capacity for family-wage jobs on this side of the US2 Trestle.

Myth: If area does not come into a city's Urban Growth Area, nothing will change.

Fact: Piecemeal development will continue without coordianted services and transportation planning based ont he County's land use designations.

If this area is not comprehensively planned, the opportunities for a high level of open space land preservation and long-term community sustainability will be lost. The City wants to plan for this area as a whole.

Myth: If this area is added to the City of Snohomish UGA, the area will not change.

Fact: The developer submitted to the City of Snohomish and Snohomish County a limited land use proposal that contains increased density of residential uses and also includes commercial industrial land.

Myth: Area is Rural -- No Change can occur.

Fact: The County has designated this area as rural residential with a Rural Urban Transition Area designation where ciaties are expected to look for next planning efforts and/or expanisons.

Myth: Lake Stevens will destroy this area with poor development.

Fact: Long-term targeted planning of the project area will create a land use pattern that will have a good network of services and/or systems such as transportation, sewers, parks, et.