The City of Lynnwood has submitted Resolutions of Intent to Annex to the Boundry Review Board for the area the the North and East of the current City boundires. If successful this will increase the City's population by over 27, 000 and approximately 5.7 square miles.
Annexing these areas would incorporate these areas fully into the Lynnwood community, would extend City services to these urbanizing areas and would enable the City to manage land use planning and future development of the areas in the long-term best interests of current and future residents. In many respects, Lynnwood sees residents, neighborhoods and businesses in these areas as already being part of our community, and we believe that the interests of the annexation areas and the City are best served by annexing them and extending Lynnwood municipal services into the areas. Both of these annexation areas are located within Snohomish County’s (and Snohomish County Tomorrow’s) “recognized” version of the City’s MUGA; and they are located entirely within the Southwest UGA, as required by the Growth Management Act.
As background, in March 2009 the City submitted the NES Annexation to the State Boundary Review Board for Snohomish County (“Board”). Under Washington law, the Board is empowered to review annexation proposals, hold a public hearing, take testimony and determine if an annexation is consistent with established state laws and policies. In early June, the Board unanimously found in favor of the Lynnwood proposal on all points, dismissing objections raised at the public hearing by the City of Mill Creek and Fire District 1. A copy of the Board’s decision is available for review.
As background, in March 2009 the City submitted the NES Annexation to the State Boundary Review Board for Snohomish County (“Board”). Under Washington law, the Board is empowered to review annexation proposals, hold a public hearing, take testimony and determine if an annexation is consistent with established state laws and policies. In early June, the Board unanimously found in favor of the Lynnwood proposal on all points, dismissing objections raised at the public hearing by the City of Mill Creek and Fire District 1. A copy of the Board’s decision is available for review.
On June 29, 2009 the City Council voted to place the NES annexation before the voters on April 27, 2010. If approved by the voters, the NES annexation area would have become part of Lynnwood in late 2010 or early 2011.
Shortly after the Lynnwood Council voted to place the annexation before the voters, the City of Mill Creek appealed the Board’s decision to Superior Court (a copy of Mill Creek’s filing is on the annexation updates website). Mill Creek has voiced objections to a small portion of the proposed NES Annexation that includes a Municipal Urban Growth Area (MUGA) overlap that has been claimed by both cities for a number of years. Mill Creek has not proposed an annexation to date nor has that City made clear plans to do so at any time in the foreseeable future.
Legal review of the BRB's approval of the NES Annexation continues to delay the annexation. In January 2010, the Superior Court upheld the BRB's decision. In May 2010, the City of Mill Creek appealed the Superior Court decision to the State Court of Appeals, which found in Lynnwood's favor in November 2011. At this time of this writing, it is unclear if Mill Creek will ask the State Supreme Court to intervene.
Following completion of the annexation process, the Lynnwood City Council will be asked to decide how to move forward; one option would be to update the financial analysis and reach out again to residents of the annexation area before setting the matter for a vote in the annexation area.
If you are a current City resident or live in the MUGA, the City encourages you to become involved and have your questions answered. City staff is happy to meet with you, your neighborhood association, business group, service club, etc. to explain the facts and provide information about annexation and hear from you. Please contact the Annexation Project (425) 670-5449 or annexation@ci.lynnwood.wa.us) for more information.