ARLINGTON – Highland neighbors won the battle, but may end up losing the war anyway.

The Old Town neighbors came out in force against the high-density Greg Stewart Rezone before the planning commission previously and at the City Council meeting Monday night. And while the rezone was shot down by the council, multi-family housing already was approved for the site in 2005. That means except for about one-third of the 2 acres, apartments can be built there up to four-stories high. Since the rezone wasn’t approved, apartments only two-stories tall can be built on that portion.

The council decided to take public comment on the rezone.

“Let’s hear what the public has to say,” Council Member Chris Raezer said.

Resident Mike Rouleau said the project is out of compliance with the comprehensive plan.

“There’s a better place to put all of those apartments,” he said.

Ryan Stupey said that development “doesn’t belong here.”

He said his family moved to Arlington because it was a “quaint, family oriented town. We want it to stay that way.”

He added that so many new apartments would increase crime and traffic on Highland Drive. He said people in Arlington don’t want to turn it into another Kirkland or Bellevue.

“Keep the values we hold dear to us,” he said.

John Lanier said his property was rezoned without his request.

“It would change the character of the whole neighborhood,” he said of the Stewart Rezone. “It would be the demise of Old Town.”

Former mayor Margaret Larson, who lives two houses down from the development, said neighbors were unaware about the rezone in 2005. But Community and Economic Development director Marc Hayes said she was mayor when the change was made. He added there were 33 changes made in the comp plan that year with amendments. The high-density was put in back, and the lower density in front as a buffer, he said.

Debora Nelson said she lives in Old Town, but feels it’s her responsibility to govern for the future. She is on the Puget Sound Regional Council that requires the area to provide for growth.

She said the city needs housing for all income levels, and not everyone can afford a house. She added that even though there are three apartment complexes nearby, her property values have done up, not down. Nelson continued that residents say they want more shops and restaurants, but those won’t come without growth.

Angie Sievers of the Master Builders Association said Snohomish County will grow by 200,000 people in the next 20 years. The PSRC expects Arlington to grow and housing affordability will be tough here without apartments. Council Member Jan Schuette said: “There will be growth. Apartments can go in there.” But the council needs to decide what it wants the city to look like. “I don’t want four stories either.”

Mike Hopson said apartments will go up in back no matter how they voted. He added that 100 percent of neighboring homeowners oppose the rezone.

Raezer ended the discussion by saying, “What’s the point of having a public hearing if we don’t listen to the public?”

By Steve Powell

spowell@arlingtontimes.com

ARLINGTON – After growing up in the family home at 606 E. Highland Drive, Blaine Field moved to Central Oregon more than 30 years ago.

So, even though his family owned the place since 1931, and he still has a sister and other family in town, he said the Field family lacks the clout it once had here.

“I moved away too long ago,” he said, explaining why he thinks the City Council shot down a rezone on his family’s property Monday night.

Field mentioned that he drove around town after a six-hour trip from Oregon and saw a number of apartments. But because of a few powerful people on Highland, including former mayor Margaret Larson, he wasn’t able to do the same. He said the two families used to babysit each other’s kids.

Field said his family bought the 2 acres and house built in 1905 from Dr. Adams, one of the first docs in town. The house was remodeled in 1930, just before his family bought it.

Field said his dad sold real estate in a time when Arlington had just 1,900 people.

“He did everything with contracts, not mortgages,” Field said, explaining just how small the town was. Field added he and his dad “had the same first-grade teacher.”

Field’s mom died in May of 2016, and about two months later he and his sister agreed to accept an offer on the property.

Finally, after almost a year, the City Council voted against a rezone that was a key for the buyer. Now, Field doesn’t know if the deal will go through or not.

He said he still loves Arlington. ”It’s a great little town. We’re not trying to ram it down anybody’s throat.”

Field said he understands the emotion. People don’t like changes in their back yard.

That is one reason why he was working with a developer who wanted to have “green space for less impact so it would blend into the neighborhood.”

He said he understands why many in Arlington want to hold on to the old way of life.

“But you can’t stop the tide. It’s coming in,” he said. “Arlington is going to grow whether you want it to or not.”