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Bothell submits Trust Land Transfer application to preserve 26.86-acre Shelton View parcel
Summary
Bothell staff submitted a Trust Land Transfer Grant application to the Washington Department of Natural Resources to acquire the 26.86-acre Shelton View parcel with the goal of preserving it as public open space; the application is now under DNR review and would proceed through trust analysis, applicant presentation and legislative prioritization.
City staff told the City Council on Oct. 7 that the city submitted a 2027–2029 Trust Land Transfer Grant application to the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) seeking transfer of the 26.86-acre Shelton View parcel for permanent public open space.
Parks Director Nick Stroup introduced Kai Patnode, the city’s parks planning and capital projects assistant, who led the application effort and noted strong community ties to the forest. "We are looking to preserve this parcel and ultimately the larger forest as public open space," Patnode said, explaining that DNR currently manages the parcel as state trust land and that the Trust Land Transfer program allows transfer of lands more valuable for public recreation, environmental and community uses than timber revenue.
Staff described the DNR review process: (1) DNR conducts a trust analysis assessing site productivity and surrounding land uses; (2) if the parcel passes, the city would be invited to present to DNR and potentially to the Board of Natural Resources (staff anticipated presentations in 2026); and (3) DNR prioritizes projects and the state legislature must provide funding for replacement lands to preserve trust-beneficiary revenues (often K‑12 school construction funds) before a transfer can be finalized.
Stroup and Patnode emphasized local support: staff said more than 300 letters of community support were included in the application and listed endorsed supporters including Shelton View Forest Stewardship Association, local schools, and the Tulalip and Duwamish tribal communities. City staff said they will continue outreach to state legislators and coordinate site visits for legislators and agency staff.
Staff cautioned that transfer is competitive and not all applicants succeed, but described the application as a necessary step to be considered. "You gotta play to win," Stroup said. No city council vote was required to submit the application; staff completed and filed the grant request and await DNR’s analysis, ranking and possible legislative funding.
Next steps: DNR will perform its analysis, invite applicant presentations if the parcel is viable, and eventually create a prioritized list for legislative consideration. The City will pursue outreach to sustaining partners and legislative allies while DNR reviews the application.
