One more step has been taken toward the ending of North Bend’s nine-year building moratorium.

Seattle and North Bend have agreed to a 60-year water contract that allows for growth in North Bend to help take development pressure off rural areas.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said the proposal, which went to the Seattle City Council for approval Monday, Dec. 17, is in keeping with the spirit of Washington’s 1990 Growth Management Act (GMA). That law seeks to curb urban sprawl, encourage economic development and protect natural resources by concentrating new growth in compact urban growth areas, which include North Bend. The agreement is tentatively scheduled to go to the North Bend City Council Tuesday, Jan. 15, at its next regular meeting.

“We still have yet to sign it but we’ve agreed to the terms,” said Duncan Wilson, North Bend administrator. “Then we’ll have our done deal.”

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