Snohomish County Council passes controversial critical habitat ordinance
EVERETT — Despite overwhelming opposing testimony, the Snohomish County Council passed a controversial amendment alongside its new Critical Areas Regulations ordinance on Wednesday afternoon.
Council members approved the ordinance, along with what is known as Amendment 3, by a 3-2 vote, with Megan Dunn and Strom Peterson voting against it.
The ordinance, originally due in December 2024 with the county’s comprehensive plan, covers development and land management regulations around wetlands, fish and wildlife conservation areas, geologically hazardous areas, aquifer recharge areas and some flood hazard areas.
Throughout 2024, the county’s Planning and Development Services, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Ecology, worked to craft an update to the ordinance, previously passed in 2006. The agencies spoke with local tribes, state agencies and researchers and numerous local experts on how to best protect environmental habitat through the policy revamp.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/snohomish-county-council-passes-controversial-critical-habitat-ordinance/