news

June 7, 2007

NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Colin Lund
Yarrow Bay Group
425.202.3675

Developer and community agree on enhanced environmental protections for Quinn's Crossing Neighborhood.

KIRKLAND---Quinn's Crossing, LLC and Echo-Paradise Community have reached an agreement that will go before the Snohomish County Council recommending approval of a 48-lot rural cluster community on a 114-acre site just off the Echo Falls Road at 215th Place SE.

"The agreement is one that demonstrates how members of the community and private interests can work together to create something better than either could do on their own," said Colin Lund, Yarrow Bay Development Director. "We believe the result of the efforts of both parties will create a model for environmentally-friendly development on sites with special concerns."

The agreement calls for 80 acres of the 114-acre site to be preserved permanently as a Native Growth Protection Area. In addition, each individual home site will include additional Native Growth Protection Area where the future homeowners will preserve the natural setting as a part of their backyards.

To help ensure water quality of the Cross Valley Aquifer, the parties agreed on adopting a state-of–the-art wastewater treatment system featuring technology that government studies in Oregon and New Zealand have proven reduces nitrogen outputs to levels far below the limit allowed by current regulations.

A water quality monitoring program will be put in place that includes annual inspections as well as telemetric measurement of homeowner systems, with around-the-clock, web-based monitoring with instantaneous alerts in the unlikely event a problem should develop. In addition, test wells will be provided for monitoring by the Cross Valley Water District.

Future homeowners will be encouraged toward organic landscaping, including a ban on the use of certain harmful pesticides and herbicides. Outdoor burning of trash, wood and yard waste will be prohibited.

"One of the most exciting elements of this agreement is an option for Echo-Paradise Community to purchase a portion of the Southwest corner of Phase 2 of Quinn's Crossing that adjoins the Paradise Valley Conservation Area," Lund said. "If the community can make this purchase over the next couple of years, this land will be maintained forever for the benefit of the public. The last statement of the settlement agreement to be presented to the Council states it perfectly: 'It's truly a win for all.'"