As 2010 moves closer and closer to becoming 2011, city of Bothell officials are continuing their attempts to expand the city by taking in targeted annexation areas in King and Snohomish counties.
Heading up the yearlong annexation effort, Community Development Director Bill Wiselogle said Bothell’s planning commission has completed its study of planning and zoning issues in the annexation areas. Those questions now move on to City Council, which plans the first of several public hearings for Oct. 5.
According to a presentation Wiselogle gave council Sept. 14, here are a few of the highlights of the planning-commission recommendations:
• The commission would like to see Bothell codes for office and professional activities and neighborhood businesses go into areas east and west of the Interstate 405 interchange. Wiselogle said the zoning is Bothell’s best approximation of the current King County zoning in effect for that area. He added the new zoning would capitalize on the location’s proximity to the freeway and promote non-motorized travel within those neighborhoods.
• In the South Norway Hill area, the commission recommends zoning allowing building heights of up to 50 feet if those buildings include some at-grade retail and structured parking. Wiselogle noted the height limit is lower than the heights allowed in other current areas of the city, as well as possible annexation zones. Around state routes 527 and 524, the planning commission proposes building heights of up to 65 feet if the property does not front along any waterway and again includes ground-floor retail.
• Persons in what’s been called the North Bloomberg area would be able to retain Woodinville addresses while being annexed to Bothell.
Wiselogle noted Bothell is taking different approaches to its potential annexations depending on which county is involved. In King County, the city might move forward with annexing the relatively small areas known as Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs) without a vote of residents.
In the past, Wiselogle and others have described PAAs as small neighborhoods, largely surrounded by the city, if not already receiving city services.
In Snohomish County, much larger areas are being looked at for annexation and plans call for a public vote. Bothell’s Municipal Urban Growth Area (MUGA) covers some 5.6 square miles containing a population of roughly 22,000.
By comparison, the King County PAAs encompass a population of about 5,000. Bothell’s current population sits at about 33,000.
Last year, annexations were scuttled due at least partly to intervention from the Snohomish County fire districts now serving the MUGA. Fire officials successfully argued the city wasn’t ready to take over fire protection in those areas. Wiselogle said city and fire officials are talking, but he declined to give any details.
“The discussions have been cordial,” he said. “We are optimistic.”
Another issue that arose last year was a dispute between King and Snohomish counties over who would collect trash — and trash collection fees — from the MUGA. Again, Wiselogle said talks are ongoing and declined further comment.
According to the schedule now set out by the city, some future steps include hiring a consultant to study the financial ramifications of taking on the annexation areas. That study should happen by the end of the year.
Overall, Wiselogle said annexation of the King County areas could happen by June. If plans move forward, a public vote in the MUGA won’t occur until November of next year. Even if all goes as planned, Bothell won’t take over the PAAs until January 2012. The Snohomish County annexations wouldn’t become official until August 2012 or even early 2013. Why? Wiselogle said Bothell will need time to ramp up city services prior to any actual annexations.
In the meantime, Wiselogle added the city wants to offer residents plenty of opportunity for comment. The planning commission held numerous public hearings during its deliberations and the upcoming council hearing is the first of three. Four public open houses are set for October. The first is from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 6 at Bothell High, 9130 N.E. 180th St.
