Snohomish County panel weighs stricter wetland and stream buffers against housing impacts

The Snohomish County Planning and Community Development Committee hosted a March 18 panel of developers, tribal and state agency staff, builders and environmental advocates to discuss proposed updates to the county's critical areas regulations (CAR); no final action was taken at the meeting.

Panelists debated whether new "best available science" justifies larger buffers and fewer exemptions for wetlands and streams, or whether the proposed changes would meaningfully reduce housing capacity and raise prices. County and state staff offered modeling and data to inform future decisions.

Why it matters: The CAR update determines how much land adjacent to streams and wetlands is protected from development. Changes to buffer rules and exemptions affect habitat for salmon and other species as well as the supply and cost of housing in Snohomish County.

Developers and home-building representatives warned that limiting buffer averaging and reductions would shrink buildable area on many infill projects and raise per-unit prices. John Maranti, of Pacific Ridge Homes, said examples from current projects show potential losses of units…