Active Code Amendments

The planning department is almost always working on at least one project that would amend the city’s development regulations, also known as the Unified Development Code. 

School Height Code Amendment

The proposal would allow new and remodeled schools to exceed the underlying height limit on the city’s Building & Structure Height map, subject to approval of the project using an administrative use permit or conditional use permit. The proposal also removes a requirement for buildings over twenty-five feet in height to have an additional setback of one foot for each foot over twenty-five feet in height. Housekeeping amendments are included to separate the definitions for K-12 schools and higher education to align with how the uses are listed in the use matrix and adds a reference to the specific use standards in EMC 19.13 to the use matrix so those are not missed by the reader.

Amending Sections:

  • EMC 19.04.080 Use definitions, public, institutional, quasi-public, for schools. 
  • EMC 19.05.110 Table 5-4, public, institutional, quasi-public use table, add reference note to special regulations EMC 19.13.180 for schools. 
  • EMC 19.13.180 Schools, delete additional setback requirement for schools located adjacent to residential zones and add a provision to allow additional height of the height map when considered under an administrative use or conditional use permit. 

The City has issued a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) on the proposed action.  Issuance of the DNS is a determination that there will be no probable significant adverse environmental impacts from the proposal and that an environmental impact statement is not required for this non-project action. Any comments on this DNS must be submitted in writing to ramccrary@everettwa.gov during the comment period which will end on October 2, 2023. 

What's Next

The City of Everett Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, on the proposed code amendments to allow new and redeveloped K-12 schools to exceed the underlying maximum building height limit on a case-by-case basis subject to public notice, a public hearing, and consistent with specific criteria for the decision-making body (planning director or hearing examiner, depending on zone).

Related Documents

  1. Agenda - October 3, 2023
  2. Agenda 4A - School Heights Code Amendment
  3. Agenda - September 19, 2023
  4. Agenda 4A - School Height Code Amendments
  5. 2023-09-12 School Heights SEPA DNS_PC hearing notice
  6. 2023-09-11 SEPA Checklist - School Heights
  7. 2023-09-15 SEPA DNS School Heights_signed

PENDING CODE AMENDMENT

HOME OCCUPATIONS

Status: On hold. The city council referred the proposal back to staff for additional work in 2021. Stay tuned for updates later this year (updated Sept 1, 2022). 

City Council

The Everett City Council held meetings on August 18 and September 1 to consider an update to the Unified Development Code home occupation regulations. Due to thoughtful questions from the Council and citizen concerns, staff will bring a revised proposal back to the council at a later date.  If you would like to be notified of that public hearing, please call 425-257-8731 to be added to the notification list.  

Planning Commission

The City of Everett Planning Commission held a virtual public hearing on July 20, 2021 to take public testimony and make a recommendation to the City Council for potential amendments on a proposed ordinance regarding home occupation regulations (Everett Municipal Code 19.08.120), which are small business activities conducted within a residence, by the resident, subordinate to the residential use. Goals of the updated regulations are to broaden opportunities for home-based entrepreneurs and clarify and simplify code enforcement activities.

Select this link for more information.  If you have any questions about the code amendment, please contact Dan Eernissee, Economic Development Director, at 425-257-8681 or deernissee@everettwa.gov.