Three Lakes: May 2005

Hidden Creeks Update

We drove out to Hidden Creeks again this afternoon. I took a bunch of pictures that I will be posting in the next few days.

I drove down to the bottom of the road at Hidden Creeks II. It's pretty clear what happens to the visual buffers (what visual buffers?) as soon as they clear off the building lots. Even the lower stuff down the ridge has a good view of the world.

I wasn't able to find the inward view from Dubuque road because of the rain, mist, and visual buffers by the road. But I'll be if you know where to look you'll see it. The Creek may be hidden, but the houses won't be.

Plant and Bake Sale now on May 22

The Three Lakes Neighbors Plant and Bake Sale will be held on May 22 at Les Schwab's in Snohomish, on Avenue D.

Hidden Creeks

I had the opportunity yesterday to drive out to the new Hidden Creeks Rural Cluster East of Storm Lake. We had been out there earlier but the front gate was closed; yesterday the gate was open. It turned out there was a reason why: they are trying to sell houses! They have a lot built but a lot that aren't sold. It seems that in the middle of the Snohomish County housing shortage, there appears to also be a money shortage. I picked up a couple of property sheets: one was asking $520,000 and the other was around $620,000. This is for houses clustered into lots smaller than 3/4 acre and next to one another on a single street.

The Rural Cluster justification for this is to save the rural landscape and preserve the surrounding natural vegetation. In this case, by making a big clear hole in the forest, cutting back on the required buffers along part of the north side, and cramming all these house into a small space. An example of what Panther Lake Ridge will turn out to be.

I suspect part of the reason that it is not selling well is that it is too far out. Three Lakes is about 10 minutes from Snohomish and the benefits of civilization; when I used to live in Seattle I was about 2 minutes plus the search for a parking space from the restaurants and entertainment of lower Queen Anne. But Hidden Creeks is about 20 minutes from Snohomish or Lake Stevens and a little more to Monroe. Yes, they have the Storm Lake Store, but it's not much.

My commute to work from Three Lakes is about the same as it was from Seattle, but driving down River Road is a lot more relaxing than I-5. If I were at Hidden Creeks I'd add another 10 minutes minimum. That's me, of course. I used to do an hour minimum from Seattle to Frederickson.

But I digress. I didn't have my camera yesterday, but as soon as I get a chance to get back out there with it, I'll post some examples of why Rural Clusters should definitely include the F-word in their name.

Woods to North of Land Use Action Sign at 151st Corner.

This post was deleted. Since I'm not sure exactly how you do that, I just removed the picture. Perhaps the rest will come later

Woods to NNE of Land Use Action Sign.

Land Use Action Sign from corner of Driveway at 151st Ave.

Looking N on 151st Ave SE into Howell Driveway with Project Notice Sign at center

View across Power Line ROW. Taken from OKane house about 10' S of PLR property line.

North Side of OKane House taken from about 15' South of PLR Property Line

Looking West at Hill Property from W side of 157th ROW about 50 feet S or PLR property Line

Okane House from West Zoomed in 4X

Looking North from W side of 157th Ave ROW into PLR Property

Okane House Views - View from West Side of 157th ROW. Looking at WEST side of OKane house

View to south from 5702. This is the way it's supposed to look, without the development. (Well, except for the gravel yard in the foreground--I'm talking about the ridge.)