Concerned Neighbors of Wellington had a very important victory this week and we’re excited to share it with you!!
Our Victory!!
Ordinance 532 passed second reading on Tuesday at the Woodinville City Council meeting with the key changes CNW advocated. The terrific victory here is that a minimum lot size of 35,000 sq ft (+ or - 15%) has been established in the R-1 zone--if there are no critical areas--and limiting the development to 1 house per acre rounding to the nearest acre. In lots with critical areas, the absolute minimum lot size will be 31,000 sq ft. which will be greater than the absolute minimum without critical areas (35,000 *(1 - .15) = 29,750 sq ft).
This is a great win for CNW and we should ALL be proud that our efforts have helped CNW achieve yet another victory in our fight to preserve the R-1 neighborhoods in the greater Woodinville area!!
“Are We Done, Yet?” What’s Next?
Well, no, unfortunately, we’re not done yet. The WA State Supreme Court ruling in our favor last year and the victory this week re: Ordinance 532 are major milestones, but there is still more work to do – and we need to continue to keep awareness high regarding the next steps in our journey.
Another piece of important legislation on which the Woodinville City Council is working and that impacts the R-1 area are the sewer regulations. Ordinance 550 has been discussed at several recent City Council meetings and another Public Hearing is scheduled in November.
It seems CNW has the necessary support from the City Council to get the right
language clarifications changed in the Woodinville Municipal Code so that
homeowners are *NOT forced* to hook up to sewer, regardless of whether
or not it is nearby. It’s important to attend the City Council meetings
where important Ordinances such as 550 (and 532) are discussed as the physical
presence of folks in the audience impacts how the Council views issues and how
they vote.
Also extremely important to all R-1 residents is the question of vesting relating to the current Wood Trails development application. As you will recall, the developer
submitted an application for Wood Trails just hours before the moratorium on
new applications went into effect. There is a legal question as to
whether this application is vested, due to the fact that it is not complete and
a formal public challenge was made within the legal timeframe to question the
validity of the application, since it was incomplete when it was submitted.
This is a very important battle for CNW – if the application is considered
“vested,” then CNW will need to step up to a huge new effort to fight the
details of the application for development of Wood Trails. That is why it
is very important we win on the vesting question/decision. CNW will
once again be required to pay legal fees as legal work will be required. We’re in fund-raising mode again, and your help here is appreciated.
Update from Neighbors to Save Wellington Park
The battle over the future of the former Wellington Hills Golf Course (which was closed September 30) is in full swing. Technically speaking, this park is located in
Snohomish County. However, it borders Woodinville City limits and if 8
artificial turf fields and 700 parking spots (as big as Costco’s parking lot!!)
are put in, ALL of us in Woodinville will be impacted by the ensuing traffic,
noise, and light pollution.
Please read the full blog from this non-profit organization at the link below. Please also consider supporting the efforts of Neighbors to Save Wellington Park so that the quiet wooded character of our neighborhoods are not destroyed by installing a Regional Sports Park in an area in which the infrastructure required to support it do not exist!! You can contribute funds to this sister non-profit, attend Snohomish County Council meetings, or volunteer to help. Read more details about the devastation this plan could cause at http://neighborstosavewellingtonpark.blogspot.com/.
You may donate to CNW today by mailing a check or donating online using Paypal.
http://www.wellington-neighborhood.org
P.O. Box 2968, Woodinville, WA 98072-2968
