While the moratorium, called a growth phasing overlay, appliesto 5,200 acres scattered throughout Snohomish County, the realissue centers around 1,685 acres in the east Mill Creek area. MillCreek Director of Community Development Bill Trimm says the area, ahotbed for developers, is currently zoned for low density, 9,600 sflots that would extend the urban sprawl of single-family houses andincrease the already congested traffic in the area.

The move angered landowners in the area, who want to sell theirland to developers and escape the area's growth. One land owner hasthreatened to stage a parade of horses and tractors along congestedroads east of Mill Creek. Trimm, who says he can empathize with theland owners' frustration over the ongoing delays, neverthelessadvocated the moratorium extension because the city is working onplans for a proposed village center that would containneighborhood-oriented retail shops, offices, public recreation anda residential area within walking distance of the commercialsector.

"If the moratorium hadn't been extended, we'd have single-familydevelopments, which wouldn't be beneficial for this area," Trimmtells GlobeSt.com. "The city wanted to have time to develop what wethink is a more realistic plan for the neighborhood. Our wholeintent is to cut down on vehicle trips by having everything withinclose walking distance and also having it dense enough to supporttransit to other areas."