My Edmonds News
Posted: November 26, 2024
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Hope also addressed a proposal from the Edmonds Environmental Council that “Environmentally Sensitive” zoning be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan to protect certain parts of Edmonds. These include areas “that either should not be further developed or must have infrastructure improvements, additional development restrictions or mitigation requirements to prevent environmental degradation.” The proposal also calls for “a staggered approach” to zoning implementation.
Regarding the first point, Hope said that she doesn’t think having such zoning as part of the Comprehensive Plan “would be very helpful, because usually people look at critical areas map, which is kept separately, and at the development code.
“That’s where the rubber meets the road, and that’s what’s really important, is making sure that the code is really clear and as much information is available as possible,” Hope continued. “The code is good. It protects the areas. That’s the point. The Comprehensive Plan is a great policy direction document, but it is not a substitute for the code.”
Regarding the idea of a staggered zoning approach, Hope described that as “kind of a tricky thing,” because it classifies a hub or center — or property near a hub or center — “into some new overlay that hasn’t been part of the discussion, and then that’s prioritized not to grow. I think it adds confusion.”