Close Window When Finished. For immediate release Nov. 7, 2008 Contact: Joyce Goedeke City of Bothell Public Information Officer 425.489.4871 425.471.3483 cell/media line joyce.goedeke@ci.bothell.wa.us City of Bothell Low Impact Development Regulations Upheld by Growth Management Hearings Board Bothell, Wash. - The Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board (the Board) has upheld the Low Impact Development (LID) regulations adopted in March by the Bothell City Council, dismissing an appeal claiming that it violated Washington's Growth Management Act and State Environmental Policy Act. The Board's decision specifically rejected the appeal's claim that the new regulations allowed for less protection of environmentally critical areas and wildlife corridors and would foster greater density than should be permitted. In doing so, the Board took special care to praise what it described as "the City of Bothell's commitment" to environmental preservation, compact urban development, and protection of property rights in adopting "the first detailed Low Impact Development regulations in Central Puget Sound." "City of Bothell has taken a leadership role in enacting the most advanced Low Impact Development regulations in the State of Washington," said City of Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb. "These laws protect and honor both our natural environment and property rights for our citizens. I am heartened that the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board unanimously upheld every part of this new law in its decision. It is unfortunate that significant resources needed to be expended to uphold important environmental laws, which protect both North Creek and our citizens who live near it." Last March, Bothell City Council adopted an ordinance enacting Low Impact Development (LID) regulations within the Fitzgerald/35th Avenue SE Subarea (located in northeast Bothell), a significant accomplishment that places high-level environmental protection in this part of Bothell. This action was consistent with the City's goal of protecting important resource areas. Following a 17-month process and nine public hearing opportunities, City Council and staff worked with the community and environmental consultants to create regulations that governs this approximately 210 acre area to provide the following long-term benefits such as, but not limited to: * Preservation of critical fish and wildlife habitat * Retention or creation of large expanses of forest area * Limitation on effective impervious surface area coverage * Limitation of surface water runoff and maximization of local groundwater infiltration from new development to avoid stream erosion and destabilization. The City's defense before the Board was provided by Peter Eglick and Jane Kiker of EglickKikerWhited, as outside counsel, under the supervision of the City of Bothell City Attorney's Office. Best regards, Joyce Goedeke | Public Information Officer City of Bothell www.ci.bothell.wa.us | BCTV Channel 21 Close Window When Finished. |