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Council approves right-of-entry permits for surveys on Snohomish River Regional Trail connection
Summary
Snohomish County Council approved Motion 25-242 to authorize execution of Puget Sound Energy and private property right-of-entry permits to allow land and environmental surveys for the Snohomish River Regional Trail connection; the motion passed 5-0.
The Snohomish County Council on May 21 approved Motion 25-242 authorizing the county executive or facilities maintenance property officer to execute right-of-entry agreements with Puget Sound Energy and private property owners to allow county consultants to conduct land and environmental surveys for the Snohomish River Regional Trail connection.
Deb Evison Bell, council staff, told the council the county previously authorized acquisition of a strip of land in 2019 intended for development of the regional trail from east of Airport Way, south of Snohomish, to the city of Everett. "As part of that development process, various surveying, analysis, and environmental determinations need to be made in order to align the trail," she said.
Bell described the motion's three parts: authorizing the Puget Sound Energy right-of-entry permit, approving the form of a right-of-entry agreement for private property owners for use in its substantial form, and authorizing execution of negotiated right-of-way entry agreements with private property owners necessary to complete the work for the Regional Trail Connection Land Survey and Environmental Studies.
She outlined the planned field work: "This work would include land surveying, wetland delineation, and the hand digging of 3 small sample pits, no more than 18 inches by 18 inches and to be backfilled with native soil with as minimal damage as possible," Bell said. The staff report noted that there should be no vegetation sampling and that photographs are permissible in developed areas. The record indicates there is no cost associated with the Puget Sound Energy right-of-way entry; right-of-entry agreements with private property owners will be negotiated following past practices.
The motion to approve was moved from the dais and seconded; the transcript does not name a recorded seconder. The council voted 5-0 in favor.
The authorization allows county staff and consultants to enter specified rights-of-way and private properties to perform the described survey and environmental work; the record does not show the exact schedule for fieldwork, specific private owners, or any contract amounts. No public comments were recorded on this agenda item during the meeting.
