Decision on buffers: After the Snohomish County Comprehensive Plan Update of 2024, county staff worked for 18 months to update our Critical Area Regulations (CAR) in response to changes and new best practice recommendations from state agencies. This update was also required under the Washington State Growth Management Act. Staff from the county’s Planning and Development Services (PDS) division identified areas that may be impacted by changes to our county’s comprehensive plan and updated scientific research and then used this information to develop a proposal to protect and preserve CARs across Snohomish County. The proposals from staff used a collection of best available science, literature reviews, diligent reviews by expert staff, several briefings and updates, direct tribal consultation, and the necessary public outreach process for input.
In May 2025, the County Council voted 3-2 to significantly weaken the ordinance. Futurewise brought action to the Growth Management Hearings Board on behalf of Futurewise, Pilchuck Audubon Society, Sierra Club Sno-Isle Group, Adopt-A-Stream, and LWVSC. The Board concluded in February that Snohomish County's riparian buffers did not protect the functions and values of critical areas and incorporate best available science. Send a thank you note (and a check) to Futurewise for bringing this action to protect salmon habitat.
Futurewise is leading the way to implement the Urban Tree Canopy Policy into an urban forest plan. Contact
Kristin Kelly.
If you are interested in creating a LWVSC committee to follow and support this work, please contact Kate Lunceford. It only takes two people! Learn more about the urban tree policy by exploring: The
Urban Tree Canopy Policies Implementation webpage; The Urban Tree Canopy GIS map to see where tree canopy coverage currently exists in Snohomish County.