Complex Deal Directs Growth Away From Falls

Developers and a land-preservation group have joined forces in WashingtonState to announce a plan that would keep development away from SnoqualmieFalls and thousands of acres of forest. According to The SeattlePost-Intelligencer, the complicated agreement includes land sales, newconservation rights, and "a tacit promise" to allow the timber company,Weyerhaeuser, pursue an expansion of its existing housing development. Amongother things, the agreement would preserve the view around the falls bykeeping development off the ridge line. Parties include King County, theCity of Snoqualmie, the Cascade Land Conservancy, Weyerhaeuser, and PugetWestern, a subsidiary of Puget Sound Energy. It is not clear that theagreement will hold together, however. Protests are expected fromanti-development activists.