Everett may be experiencing some exciting changes soon. The development of a minimum wage ordinance was announced last month, as were plans to introduce a Chamber of Commerce proposal. Additionally, it seems like the Baker Heights project (we touched on this back in March and it's also currently known as the Park District project) has inspired some proposed amendments to our Comprehensive Plan. 

This Park District project is a proposed 12-story Everett Housing Authority (EHA) property that is intended to not just provide housing, but also community. Per an EHA presentation on 6/12/24, this plan is aligned with strategic plans (like Rethink Housing) and takes conscious effort to bolster green spaces (for example, buffering the wetlands with green space) as well as make the Park District a welcoming (and accessible) place for all. The goal in creating this project is not just to expand our housing (which we desperately need) but also to utilize resources more effectively and build a more dynamic and accessible residential area. This means there is also intentionality with creating community spaces such as a Schack Art Center space, a library, and other retail possibilities, as well as with preserving green spaces. 

There are three ordinances in particular that the City Council considered from June 12th to July 10th - a Comprehensive Plan Amendment; a Planned Development Overlay and Development Agreement; and a Street Vacation. All three ordinances are recommended by City Staff and all three are connected as part of the Park District proposal. The entire project has been developed over this past year and people can read more information about every aspect of this project (like the environmental statement) here. 

Below, we’ll cover the first 2 ordinances more in-depth. The 3rd and final ordinance, regarding the vacating of the 1200 and 1300 block of Larch, Hemlock, and Fir Street, was a topic of discussion back in February as developing this Park District will require the redevelopment of these rights of way. 

First the Comprehensive Plan Amendment ordinance. This ordinance would impact the land use table within policy 2.11.1, which is related to Multifamily Residential zones. Specifically, it would increase the number of stories allowed in a Planned Development Overlay from 10 to 15. While the project itself, due to community input, is only going up to 12 stories, the city has been slowly expanding capacity in multifamily zones over the past several years, and though we are still far from where we need to be to account for our current and expected growth, this amendment would help us meet our city’s needs more effectively. Additionally, this change is limited to the Planned Development Overlay. 

This takes us to the second ordinance regarding a Planned Development Overlay and Development Agreement. Fun fact! A Planned Development Overlay is essentially just a way for a city to be innovative when proposed developments that would benefit the community don’t quite fit within the zoning constraint, though it still has to be consistent with the comprehensive plan (see that first ordinance above). 

The proposed Overlay includes 3 pieces: modified development regulations, modified design standards, and a preliminary development plan for the next 3-4 years. This would allow for some non-residential uses (such as breweries, daycares, veterinary clinics, restaurants, and more) and adjust some design standards (signs, exterior lighting, etc.) within the Park District project area. 

There was discussion from community members and council members regarding these changes and Mary Swenson, interim Director of EHA, highlighted their commitment to conserving the wetlands and natural areas (along with Wiggums Hollow Park), improving accessibility, and continuing to listen to the community. She also shared that the step-wise nature and extended timeline for this project is intentional. No one knows what the future holds and this is an innovative project with novel features (like underground parking) and with some information still yet to be determined. The intention is to make sure the project can start, and can be adapted as needed. 

Speaking of adaptations, there were 3 amendments supported by city staff, outlined in the 6/26 meeting. Those were: a letter of intent from EHA to preserve the wetland area and explore options for interpretive trails and other conservation efforts; a commitment to improving sidewalks and pedestrian connections; and a letter of intent to ensure retail spaces are scaled to the neighborhood and are attractive to potential retail renters. 

At the 7/10 Council Meeting, all 3 amendments and all 3 ordinances passed unanimously, though Councilmember Tuohy did abstain from all discussion and voting due to her connection to the Schack Art Center. 

Community members and council members alike praised city staff, EHA, and the Delta community for collaborating, really listening to one another, and creating a project that will truly serve the community - and I couldn’t agree more. We don’t often see projects like these that address our current needs while also planning ahead for the future Everett we want to build for ourselves, and it will be exciting to see how this project builds up over the next few years (and what new changes are inspired by it).  

Angela Di Filippo currently works in State Social Services and recently earned her Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology with extensive training in evidence-based leadership coaching. Angela moved from North Carolina to Washington 6 years ago and has proudly called Everett her home for 5 of those years. When not helping others solve problems in creative and strength-driven ways, Angela enjoys her time painting, hiking with her terrier-mix, Indy, and eating waffles.