Background Information The Snoqualmie Preservation Initiative is a series of actions intended to preserve critical forestlands, viewsheds and trail corridors in and around the City of Snoqualmie, while at the same time, finalizing planning for the City's future growth. For several years, King County, the City of Snoqualmie and the Cascade Land Conservancy, a non-profit land preservation organization, have separately been looking for ways to ensure the preservation of forestlands, trail corridors and the viewshed of Snoqualmie Falls. By working together and with the Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company (WRECO), a plan of action was developed. Presentation slides View slides >> featured in the Snoqualmie Preservation Initiative presentation The initiative was born over concern about the Falls Crossing property, a 220 acre site straddling the Snoqualmie Parkway between downtown Snoqualmie and Snoqualmie Ridge, and immediately adjacent to Snoqualmie Falls. The property owner had submitted an application and conducted extensive environmental review for an intensive, mixed-use development on the site. The proposed development was consistent with the property's zoning, but was not supported by most Snoqualmie residents, who along with the Snoqualmie Tribe and citizens from throughout King County, were concerned about the impacts of development on the Falls. Snoqualmie Mayor Fuzzy Fletcher directed his staff to seek options for maintaining the Falls Crossing site in an undeveloped state, and staff asked WRECO if they would be willing to help preserve the site. The Cascade Land Conservancy and King County were also asked to help explore options. The initiative grew to address a range of conservation and development issues in the Snoqualmie area. In addition to a strong, mutual desire to preserve the Falls Crossing property, King County, Snoqualmie and the Cascade Land Conservancy want to preserve an undeveloped corridor surrounding the regional Snoqualmie Valley and Preston-Snoqualmie trails, and ensure the Raging River watershed south of I-90 be maintained in forestry uses in perpetuity. WRECO is the major land owner in these interest areas. A series of actions to achieve protection of the Falls, the trail corridors and the Raging River watershed, along with the necessary tradeoffs for these protections, are embodied in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the King County Executive, the Mayor of the Snoqualmie, Cascade Land Conservancy and WRECO on March 15, 2001. On January 16, 2001, the Cascade Land Conservancy signed a Real Estate Purchase and Sales Agreement with Puget Western, Inc., the owner of the Falls Crossing site, to purchase the 145 acre portion of the site north of the Snoqualmie Parkway closest to the Snoqualmie Falls. The Purchase and Sales Agreement established the purchase price at $13.3 million, and set the payment schedule for the property. An initial payment of $3.3 million is due at the end of June, 2001 in order to close the sale, with additional payments in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The MOU states the intent of the County and the City to fund the purchase of the Falls Crossing site, but outlines circumstances under which WRECO would fulfill King County' and Snoqualmie's funding obligations. The MOU also describes the additional land preservation WRECO would provide. If fully implemented, the initiative would have the following results: The critical portion of the Falls Crossing site near the Falls would be owned by the public and protected from development forever, except for six acres adjacent to the Parkway set aside for a future city campus. The City will pay $1.65 million for the purchase, and WRECO will pay $11.65 million. Any future development of up to 9000 acres in the Raging River watershed south of I-90 would be prohibited, while forestry activities would be maintained and public trails would be created. WRECO owns the most vulnerable 2800 acres adjacent to Highway 18. The remaining 6200 acres are owned by the Fruit Growers Supply Company; the Cascade Land Conservancy is negotiating similar terms for their lands. Together these lands are the only private holdings separating the Tiger Mountain State Forest to the west, Rattlesnake Ridge Scenic Area to the east, and the Seattle Watershed and Taylor Mountain to the south. The trail system north and west of Snoqualmie would be enhanced and connected through conservation easements on WRECO lands traversed by the trails precluding rural residential development, and $1 million would be contributed by WRECO toward the construction of a trail bridge across the upper Snoqualmie River. Snoqualmie Ridge would, over time and subject to extensive environmental and public review, be allowed to expand by up to 525 acres to the south of the current development, and up to 200 acres to the northwest of the current development. An additional 268 new homes would also be allowed within the borders of the existing Snoqualmie Ridge development, on land previously approved by the City for business park uses. If the initiative is not fully implemented: King County would be responsible for up to $9.3 million of the cost of Falls Crossing, while Snoqualmie would be responsible for up to $4 million. While the MOU indicates it is the intent of the County and the City to fund the purchase of Falls Crossing, the respective Councils could choose not to appropriate sufficient funds, in which case the Purchase and Sales Agreement would be terminated. Low density rural development consistent with existing zoning could occur adjacent to the regional trails, and construction of a trail bridge across the upper Snoqualmie River would be less likely to be fully funded. The 9000 acres in the Raging River watershed would remain designated for forestry, but would continue to be vulnerable to development pressures due to proximity to I-90 Highway 18, and subject to land use decisions by future King County Councils. The City of Snoqualmie's JPA would remain unresolved and subject to future decisions. Steps to expand Snoqualmie Ridge would be postponed. Relationship of Snoqualmie Preservation Initiative to the Snoqualmie Urban Growth Area Subarea Plan The first step of the initiative is to complete a subarea plan to determine the City of Snoqualmie's UGA. If the subarea plan results in the addition of WRECO's ownerships to the UGA, WRECO will provide temporary conservation easements on their lands along the regional trails and in the Raging River watershed, restricting use of the properties to trails and forestry. They will also commit to a series of payments towards the Falls Crossing purchase. As the sale of Falls Crossing is due to close at the end of June, 2001, the decision about Snoqualmie's UGA must be completed in mid-June in order to determine the extent of King County's and Snoqualmie's funding commitments. The addition of WRECO lands to the UGA does not guarantee future annexation or urban development of these lands. Those actions are subject to future, detailed planning, environmental analysis and public review. If WRECO's lands are annexed and approved for development, additional contributions to the purchase of Falls Crossing will be made, the conservation easements on trail lands and the Raging River watershed will become permanent, and $1 million will be contributed to the trail bridge. If future annexation and development does not occur, WRECO will not make additional payments, and the conservation easements will terminate.

Map of Snoqualmie Preservation Initiative (.pdf file 254 KB) Snoqualmie Urban Growth Area Subarea Plan 2001 View >> Executive Proposal (Word Document 36KB) The Snoqualmie Urban Growth Area Subarea Plan will be reviewed by the King County Council Growth Management and Unincorporated Areas Committee on May 15th at 9:30 a.m., and on May 22nd at 2:00 p.m. Committee meetings are held in Council Chambers, 10th floor of the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue in Seattle. For more information, contact Lauren Smith at (206) 296-0352 or by email at lauren.smith@metrokc.gov. Two related ordinances outline the agreement for funding the purchase of the Falls Crossing site, and appropriate funds to complete the purchase. View >> Funding Agreement Authorizing Ordinance (Word Document 23KB) View >> Draft Funding Agreement (Word Document 57KB) View >> Appropriation Ordinance (Word Document 24KB) The funding ordinances will be reviewed by the King County Council Budget and Fiscal Management Committee on May 9th at 9:30 a.m., and on May 16th at 9:30 a.m. Committee meetings are held in Council Chambers, 10th floor of the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue in Seattle. For more information, contact Polly St. John at (206) 296-1641 or by email at polly.stjohn@metrokc.gov. In The Media Feb. 22, 2001 "Group effort applauded," Snoqualmie Valley Record (opinion, editorial) Feb. 22, 2001 "A grand slam (Snoqualmie Preservation Initiative)," Snoqualmie Valley Record (letter to the editor) Feb. 22, 2001 "'An incredible opportunity'," Snoqualmie Valley Record Feb. 22, 2001 "Timeline for the Snoqualmie Preservation Initiative," Snoqualmie Valley Record Feb. 15, 2001 "Deal keeps growth away from Snoqualmie Falls," Seattle Post-Intelligencer Feb. 15, 2001 "Deal pending on Falls Crossing," Snoqualmie Valley Record Feb. 15, 2001 "Snoqualmie Falls houses find new home - If $13.3 million deal is OK'd, land will be turned into preserve," Eastside Journal Feb. 14, 2001 "Historic land deal for county," Seattle Post-Intelligencer Feb. 14, 2001 "Preservation deal to stop Snoqualmie Falls complex: 10,000-acre agreement to be announced today," Eastside Journal Feb. 14, 2001 "Deal will preserve Eastside forest," KOMO 4 News

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Updated: June 3, 2003