Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
Title
Ordinance 26-038, relating to Growth Management; Concerning Roads and Access; amending Chapter 30.24 and Sections 30.66b.540, 30.91r.220, and 30.91r.240 of the Snohomish County Code
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DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development Services
ORIGINATOR: Michael Saponaro
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Mike McCrary 8/5/26
PURPOSE: The purpose is to pass this ordinance of proposed code amendments in chapter 30.24 SCC (General Development Standards - Access and Road Network), SCC 30.66B.540 (Dedication, establishment, or deeding of right-of-way- timing), SCC 30.91R.220 (Road, public), and SCC 30.91R.240 (Road system). The amendments propose to bifurcate access and road network requirements for developments inside and outside of urban growth areas, as well as cut red tape where available.
BACKGROUND: There have been ongoing efforts for the past two years to create two sets of access and road network requirements for developments within the urban growth areas versus outside the urban growth areas. Dual metrics for urban and rural network connectivity and pedestrian facility requirements are proposed, along with general updates to outdated or ambiguous language. Road setbacks often involve "public roads," which are defined as roads maintained by the county, which inadvertently exempts developments around state highways from the same regulations. Most of the provisions in this code chapter were last updated on October 3, 2012 in Amended Ordinance No. 12-049, and continue to need refinements upon input from stakeholders. This code project went to a Planning Commission briefing on July 22, 2025, but was shelved before the hearing to retool code language in dual meetings with Department of Public Works (DPW) staff and Master Builders Association (MBA) stakeholders to ensure logistical and technical changes would not affect safety or engineering concerns.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OB...
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