One of the ways that the City of Mountlake Terrace has been able complete many projects in the City even with decreased revenue is by aggressively pursuing and winning many federal and state grants. The most recent is a $100,000 state planning grant aimed at encouraging urban development and reducing loss of farmlands and forests:

About $ 1 million is being provided by the state on a competitive basis to cities that applied for the grant.  The city won the maximum size grant of $100,000.  The Washington State Department of Commerce is using special funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide the grants.

“This is fantastic news,” said Shane Hope, Community and Economic Development Director.  “Our City Council has been at the forefront of supporting the environment and, at the same time, looking for ways to keep costs down.  The grant will really help.”

The project will study how development rights from rural land could be transferred to the city’s Town Center and other planned areas where development is desired.  It will include market analysis and environmental review.

As part of the study, the city will work with Snohomish County on options for a transfer of development rights program.  A schedule for public input will be developed early in the project.  The study must be completed by the end of 2012.

Mountlake Terrace has an adopted Sustainability Strategy that promotes the natural environment, energy conservation, and community livability.

[image courtesy Sebastian Niedlich (Grabthar)]