Today’s Council action completes the $22 million purchase of the development rights to the parcel east of Carnation between Interstate 90 and Highway 2, formerly known as the Snoqualmie Tree Farm, from the Hancock Timber Resources Group which owns the property. Hancock continues to own and harvest the land. Purchase of the development rights ensures that if Hancock or a future landowner decides to stop harvesting the Snoqualmie tree farm, the land will not convert to strip malls or subdivisions.

“King County continues to be committed to protecting and enhancing its environmental investment even as we watch our bottom line,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “The funds for purchase of the development rights come not from the County’s general fund, but from a program earmarked for the purchase of open space. Future generations will benefit because of the foresight of this Council even during these challenging budget times.”

“This is the culmination of decade-long effort to ensure that this area will never turn into a sprawl of housing developments, highways and strip malls,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “In a little more than a month we have been able to complete a purchase that I thought had slipped away from us last year. The Cascade Land Conservancy and Hancock Timber are both to be commended for their work to make this dream of a green legacy a reality.”

King County is using county Conservation Futures Funds to purchase the development rights from Hancock. The Conservation Futures Fund is supported by a countywide property tax, which by state law can only be used to purchase open space or resource lands.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system
and type in “2004-0391.2”