MARYSVILLE — The city of Marysville’s population is growing from approximately 37,000 to 57,000 residents Dec. 30, making it the second-largest city in Snohomish County.

The annexation area, which underwent a census in mid-December, encompasses the 2,847 acres north of Grove Street, east of State Avenue, south of the 14800 block and west of 67th Avenue NE. Of its 7,275 parcels of property, 91 are experiencing a change in land use as a result of annexation. The existing city limits of Marysville touch 75 percent of the boundaries of the annexation area, and state law allows a city to annex an area by agreement with the county, rather than by a petition or a vote, if a city’s limits touch 60 percent or more of an annexation area’s boundaries.

This move follows a public hearing before the Marysville City and Snohomish County councils July 13, which packed the City Council chambers at Marysville City Hall, as well as a Sept. 9 public hearing before the Marysville Planning Commission, and two further public hearings before the City Council Sept. 28 and Nov. 2. The latter two hearings attracted no public comment, but the July 13 hearing drew public testimony from residents of the annexation area who objected to the city annexing their property.

City Council member Lee Phillips cast the lone dissenting vote when the City and County councils voted July 13 to authorize Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall to sign the interlocal agreement between the city and the county, providing the annexation to the city of the unincorporated urban growth area in roughly the center of Marysville. On Nov. 16, Phillips again cast the lone dissenting vote, and reiterated his July 13 objections on the grounds of government representation by suggesting that, without deciding the annexation through an election, the city would be “telling [residents] who will govern them, and forcing that on them.”

Some residents of the currently unincorporated area, such as Lisa DeGreave of the Timberbrook neighborhood, recycle and dispose of trash on their own, without the aid of Waste Management. The Revised Code of Washington mandates a delay of seven years after annexation before the city of Marysville can take over garbage service in the annexed area, during which time city of Marysville Community Development Director Gloria Hirashima explained that garbage service in the area “would go on as it does currently.” Once the annexed area falls under city garbage service, that service is currently mandatory, but Hirashima has said, “The city is already discussing whether to stay in the garbage business, and it’s still a very active discussion.”

As for businesses in the unincorporated area, Hirashima explained that those businesses will be required to obtain city business permits once they operate within the city limits, but elaborated that existing businesses that currently comply with county rules would be grandfathered in. Hirashima anticipated that most such businesses would be home-occupied businesses, and she isn’t aware of many significant differences between the city and county’s residential use laws.

The 13.6-acre southeast corner of 100th Street NE and 55th Avenue NE is currently zoned for single-family development by the county, but the city comprehensive plan would allow low-density single- and multi-family development. The currently vacant county-zoned single-family area of 1.04 acres at the northwest corner of 100th Street NE and 67th Avenue NE would be rezoned for neighborhood business by the city. The 39.3-acre southeast corner of 100th Street NE and 55th Avenue NE, where Mother Nature’s Window Park and three single-family residences stand, would be rezoned recreational.

The existing duplex use of the 0.71 acres at 11130 45th Ave. NE would become mixed use. The existing two single-family residences and farming on the 9.27 acres at 5503 and 5519 100th St. NE would be zoned for high-density single-family housing, as would the 19.4 acres of large lot single-family homesites at 101st Place NE, the 0.28-acre single-family residence currently designated as Tribal property at 5012 102nd Pl. NE, the 3.05-acre Mountain View Presbyterian Church property at 5115 100th St. NE, and the 22-acre Kellogg Village mobile home park and condominiums. The 2.76 acres south of 108th Street NE and east of Smokey Point Boulevard would be zoned medium-density single-family.

Links:

City, County councils vote to authorize annexation for Marysville

City holds annexation hearing

Marysville City Council votes 6-1 to annex 20,000 residents

Marysville City Council approves annexation