Sultan has essentially become a city in turmoil. Recent events (in which G.R.I.T. has played a part) have unfortunately diluted the strength of both the residents of Sultan and G.R.I.T.’s primary message and goal, which is to "get development under control." Any efforts that detract from the accomplishment of that goal are not positive. They are negative, and sap our energies.

Why is the City so afraid of finding out what the citizens and taxpayers of Sultan want? Many voices have been raised over the last several months, calling for a vote on the development the City has been aggressively pursuing. G.R.I.T. itself has an offer on the table, volunteering to perform a survey for this purpose, which has thus far been ignored (as of 9/18/00).

A recent analysis of our population (see our Sultan Population Projections page), shows that we will have 374 more people than our 2012 city-wide GMA target population, once currently approved housing and developments currently in the pipeline are completed. The 1999 Snohomish County Tomorrow population target within Sultan’s city limits for 2012 is estimated as 3,670. The population calculations we have run, using the city-supplied figures to the Office of Financial Management, puts us to within 78 people of the Snohomish County Tomorrow’s 1999 estimated city population capacity of 4,122.

And, with the City’s full-steam-ahead approach to development within the economic zone, as indicated in recent reports as well as the Sultan Basin Build-out study performed in June, 1999, those figures represent only a glimpse of what’s coming.

What does this all mean? It means that the residents of Sultan need to become involved in what is happening here, and do it quickly. If they don’t act now, Sultan will quickly morph into a concrete and smog-clogged mini-metropolis (translate: "Monroe") within a few years’ time.

As examples of our contention that the City is actively engaged in a frenetic push to become part of the Route 2 corridor’s "Gold" Rush" of development, we would like to direct your attention to the following:

• The City’s approval of new housing developments at the southern end of Sultan Basin Road in 1999, the effects of which was the obliteration of significant rural acreage and wetlands in this area. The analogy that comes to mind is akin to Sherman’s March to the Sea. This explosive expansion has prompted even the WSDOT to urge caution by recommending that further development be conditioned upon an upgrade of the SR2/SBR intersection. Residents living in downtown Sultan only see, perhaps, an increase in traffic and perhaps attribute it to cities located east of us, particularly Gold Bar. But those of living off SBR are aware of the significant impacts that new developments have had on the basin road and it is substantial.
• The City’s constant mantra that advisements about public meetings, postings on land use actions, etc. have all been done "in accordance with the law," are not representative of a governmental body interested in actually hearing its constituents and engaging them in an effective interactive dialogue. Many land use signs cannot be read, and a request for information on the details behind those land use notices often results in stonewalling by city personnel. Several public meetings which received the absolute minimal legally-required notice in the back of the legal section in the Everett Herald, are issues that many would like to know about. But if you’re a hard-working taxpayer, commuting to/from Seattle or Bellevue, where do you find the time to search out this information? Some public meetings were so poorly "advertised" that even we have been unaware of them until it was too late to notify people. (And I don’t think anyone will ever accuse us of not being vigilant in trying to keep abreast of what’s happening!) In one instance a posting went up several days after the event took place. In all fairness to the City, however, this was a Department of Natural Resource event and the City said they didn’t receive it until the meeting had been held.
• The City continues moving ahead with its plans for a huge commercial and industrial expansion east of Sultan Basin Road and is currently in "Phase 2." How many people in Sultan were aware that there was even a "Phase 1"?
• The kick-off for Phase 2 of this proposed industrial expansion was an "owners’ only" meeting for people owning land in the economic zone. This was essentially a "dog and pony" show, wherein the City encouraged landowners to develop their land, and expressed to them the high level of collaboration and teamwork which would be provided to help them (the owners) achieve the development. This type of action (solicitation) would be laudable if the majority of Sultan residents were in favor of this type of growth, but it is our strongly-held belief that they are not in accord with it. This means that there are approximately 60 landowners who may be totally rewriting our future for us, despite our desires.

• The Mayor recently appointed two new Planning Commissioners, one of which is a strong pro-development Sultan resident of long-standing, Tom Green. The second was an individual by the name of Bart Dalmaso [spelling uncertain], with whom the mayor seemed to be unfamiliar (see our transcript of selected comments from the September 6^th Council Meeting). He is a real estate broker and "has signed ordinances" for the City of Issaquah. (A call to Issaquah’s HR department disavowed any knowledge of him within the last 10 years and we are still awaiting a more detailed check of their archives.) We know of two other eminently-qualified candidates who applied for these positions, both of whom have previously urged caution in the speed and method by which the city develops, and both of whom have solid construction and contractor or engineering backgrounds. Passing over these candidates in favor of realtors is perhaps the most potentially-devastating blow to those in Sultan who advocate slow, or at least, measured, growth.

When you speak of damage control, let’s talk about the responsibility of the residents of Sultan to become involved in controlling it, not merely sitting back and watching it happen. What sort of damage can be done in the guise of "development" with the current political mix within city hall?

The problem, of course, is an age-old one: The government has the time, personnel and a virtually unlimited supply of taxpayer funds with which to pursue an agenda perhaps not consistent with residents’ desires. G.R.I.T. wholeheartedly believes that most of Sultan’s residents wish to stay rural. This was proved without a doubt during the 1995 process in developing our Comprehensive Plan. And, if anything, that desire should be reinforced by young families coming into Sultan for two reasons: to buy a home they can afford, and to "get away from it all." Well, lo and behold, the "all" appears to be racing up behind them so fast they’re not sure what to do about it.

We have said it over and over until it sounds like a broken record, but if we don’t want Sultan to look like Monroe in five years’ time, the residents of Sultan need to get off their couches and start getting involved. If we do nothing NOW, we will not have a asecond shot at this. Doing nothing is NOT an option. Once the lovely "green-frastructure" is gone, it’s gone.

Many in town probably believe that G.R.I.T. is a negative organization "against" everything – the city, the developers and growth. Not so. We are PRO interactive government serving the people. We are PRO taxpayer. We are PRO growth nurtured by proper planning and accurate baseline data. We are PRO maintaining a small town atmosphere. We are PRO integrity in government. Most important, we are PRO developing the type of town that will shine as a monument to the City’s foresight and wisdom by restraining the development tiger on a short and controlled leash, rather than allowing it to run loose, destroying or maiming virtually everything in its path.

The 1995 Comprehensive Plan reflected Sultan’s desire to maintain a "small town" feel. We believe this has not changed. And, if anything, the desire of those new to sultan has probably reinforced that desire. If the current government of Sultan is so certain it is representing the majority view, why has it not silenced its critics by taking a poll, a vote or a survey to confirm where its people stand on this issue?