A King County judge denied a request Tuesday to halt logging at a Mukilteo development site until the next hearing in the case.
Judge Barbara Linde temporarily stopped the logging last week to have more time to read up on the issue. However, her ruling on Tuesday allows developer Frognal Estates to continue clear cutting the site.
A February hearing before Snohomish County is scheduled to determine if the planned development is consistent with code.
After the ruling, a spokesperson for Frognal Estates maintained the group was “thorough, diligent, and transparent” during the planning process.
“The County has completed detailed and exhaustive reviews of all permit applications to make sure they comply with all applicable laws and regulations before issuing permits,” Kamil Lakhani, founder of Integral Northwest, said in a statement. “Our approved permits incorporate the best practices and designs.”
Sno-King Watershed Council had requested a judge block the logging, arguing that logging the site during the rainy season would put the land at risk for landslides and erosion issues.
“SKWC feels that Snohomish County has not been enforcing its code requirements on the Frognal project and will continue to monitor and point out project failures and code violations as they become apparent,” Bill Lider with Lider Engineering said in a statement.
Snohomish County admitted the landslide danger exists but said it's minimal. They argued the developer has a right to log land that's privately owned.
Linde’s ruling is the latest development in a 13-year battle between neighbors and Frognal Estates.
Opposition to the new neighborhood, which is slated to bring 112 homes, began in 2005. Along with the 2008 recession, the legal wrangling delayed the construction for years. It's still stuck in appeals court, but the developer was granted the permit to log nearly 17 acres anyway.