EVERETT – The Everett City Council could take action on the proposed Metro Everett plan aiming to revitalize the City’s downtown area this Wednesday. A final public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday evening, Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m., after which the council is expected to approve the ordinances.
“This is an exciting time for Everett and I’m very optimistic about where the Metro Everett plan will take us,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. “This plan looks at the big picture of growth, allowing us to be strategic to grow in the right way.”
The Metro Everett plan targets development in the urban core, where Everett residents have said they want to see growth occur. In downtown, that means vertical growth. Studies show that as a city’s density increases, its per capita demands on resources and infrastructure shrink. This led to the thinking that for a downtown to function properly, it would need a relatively small footprint and an allowance for vertical growth. Without appropriate downtown height zoning, growth would be throttled and limit the city’s function, pushing demand to sprawl.
Parking has also been a topic brought forward by the proposed Metro Everett plan. Parking is an expensive part of any retail, residential, or commercial project with structured parking pushing each stall to cost over $20,000. The new code specifies a formula that achieves results that are closer to market demand, and therefore every building in the city will be that much more cost-effective, giving investors one more reason to build in Everett.
“I’m excited about showcasing our city,” said Dan Eernissee, Everett’s new economic development director. “This plan tells investors that the City welcomes them and makes a commitment to our community that we want to see quality investment, which increases the quality of life.”
The Metro Everett plan is the result of more than two years of planning work and public feedback, as well as 24 meetings before the City’s Planning commission.
Additional information about the Metro Everett plan can be found at www.everettwa.gov/metro
