Several Maltby residents recently participated in a public hearing reviewing requests of zoning changes to be included in Docket XIII before the Snohomish County Council in June. While there were statement both for and against the proposed zoning changes for parts of Maltby, the against carried the day. While this may seem as a victory for many Maltby residents, it is bittersweet at best.
Our hearts must go out to those who asked to have their current RUTA zoning designation changed to Urban Industrial in Malt-1. Currently their property has, in many cases, a grass blade separation between them and "urban" Maltby. A ball hit a little to hard can sail past the razor wire and under the cement pumper trucks. Don't even think of letting the children walk down to the ice cream parlor.
Then there are those in Malt-2 who have seen their home values plummet as million dollar vista turn into warehouse eyesores. Many are awaking way to early as the dump trucks that find the "urban" land to be cheap parking start up to their jobs many miles away.
Yes, the mistake which is the Maltby Urban Area didn't expand . . . for now.
However, we must see this as only the beginning. The residents who favored Malt-1 and Malt-2 want out. Some will wait hoping for the change to Urban zoning and the recovery of the value, not of their homes, but of the land. Others will take what little of the value of their homes are left and sell. Note, however, that those buying their home will most likely not be interested in raising families but speculators who have the money and time to wait while allowing the property to deteriorate.
Maltby will change. There is little doubt to that. Those who came here for a rural setting are probably already considering their options. Those who looked for a combination of land and acceptable commuting distance may hand on a bit longer.
The only question remaining is how will it change. Will we, the residents of Maltby, have a say or will we just be bystanders? The time is now.
Posted
Jun 28 2008, 08:35 PM
by
Earl