[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6269451,"mediaKeyId","3042895-0fb4b6d4b85f91ca29ec06eed37f4dac","parentId",3042895,"title","Planning commission and Port of Everett staff discuss port compatibility overlay, commissioners seek clarity on scope and enforcement","audioSeconds",2658,"startMs",4854000,"endMs",7512000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042895-0fb4b6d4b85f91ca29ec06eed37f4dac&start=4854&end=7512","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042895-0fb4b6d4b85f91ca29ec06eed37f4dac/thumbnail_4854000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269451/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Planning-commission-and-Port-of-Everett-staff-discuss-port-compatibility-overlay-commissioners-seek-clarity-on-scope-and-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269451-f90b8e9bb3293ce643493f39d0056a70/orig.mp4?Expires=1775299377&Signature=ZMJvJN5uv0clmfGTtsqMon~qk4F-t33MpPsHAEwNozdegSTUoWFak67rF3pYo~q6Y6PJuzwF4diruz4aFPFIomyL-d9btQTrU8FtkstBGS1JVhUzvVp0ftuwdSTJIjWtRcZIB~T6yUVYF2LykCNh-f1M7kgdJZdyFCC~ncSo-zHzizILNbi2XkxdYjP1h~yxXlJSMwyYQCKnmMGJ8kEdS8UO9qwrFzmnFdk5JOo9Hb-cDiu0QuIUx99O-A366U7vwdNX4QQymsIzCSnrQK6lxHBeH9u9~HX4y1EyFvQg2T~JA9HCXF7CrZIgshfuPlrrHP6fTl1zSH3scA317HsM4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Everett City, WA","date","2025-04-16T16:13:53Z","article","Planning staff and Port of Everett representatives discussed proposed refinements to the port and freight compatibility provisions in chapter 17 of the development regulations draft, focusing on how the city should notify developers and whether the port can require mitigation measures on private projects.

York Stevens Wojta introduced the chapter and said staff had worked with the Port of Everett and neighborhood representatives toward a negotiated settlement that “de‑emphasizes” the overlay’s visibility while preserving its functional purpose. The draft replaces the previous map‑based overlay with a textual description—parcels within 800 feet of Port of Everett marine terminal property—and includes an optional freight compatibility area for parcels adjacent to West Marine View Drive, Pacific, Rucker and 40th Street.

Laura Gurley, Port of Everett staff, urged the commission to view the approach as education and communication rather than a mechanism to force private property owners to meet port‑driven requirements. “We're not asking to require anyone to do anything. It's a matter of education. If you're gonna build something, we just want you to know that you might, at some point, if we do finally... have more heavy duty traffic moving at 03:00 in the morning... that could very much wake you up,” Gurley said.

Why it matters: The port compatibility provisions affect development proposals near port facilities where industrial operations, loud ship movements and overnight activity could create conflicts with new housing or noise‑sensitive uses. Commissioners expressed concern about creating an uneven playing field if port comments can be turned into conditions of approval for private projects, and about administrative burden and legal clarity if the code language is removed from the municipal code and instead maintained in department rules.

Major points of discussion

- Map vs. textual description: Residents had opposed an explicit mapped overlay; staff proposed a textual 800‑foot definition roughly matching the prior map footprint. Commissioners raised concerns that an 800‑foot radial measure could produce unintended consequences and be more dynamic than a mapped boundary.

- Notification and enforceability: The draft would remove the code language that prescribes the written notice provided to applicants and instead maintain a notice in department rules. Commissioners asked how to ensure the notice is reliably provided if it is not codified; staff replied it would remain a departmental practice and that changes to the notice would require port input.

- Conditions of approval: The draft clarifies that the city “shall consider” comments from the port and “where authorized under this title may apply such conditions.” Commissioners worried that port recommendations could be used to require mitigation such as upgraded windows or insulation, increasing costs for private developers; staff and port representatives said the intent is advisory but acknowledged staff review could incorporate applicable, code‑authorized mitigation.

- Trigger thresholds and additions: Commissioners asked whether minor additions to existing buildings would trigger the overlay requirements if they push a structure across a 10,000‑square‑foot threshold; staff said the original intention was to avoid triggering review for small expansions and that language could be clarified to focus on new development or large additions rather than minor remodels.

Port perspective and procedural notes

Laura Gurley emphasized the port seeks to avoid future land‑use conflict by educating applicants and maintaining a direct line of communication with developers. “It might be 03:00 in the morning, and we have a ship in there unloading tanks from the military, which are very loud... we just want someone who might be building something to be aware of that so they can choose if they want to. Eve up your insulation, your windows, whatever it might be,” she said. Gurley said the port has no authority to compel city permit decisions and that the port’s role is to provide comments for staff consideration.

Commissioners asked staff to preserve a durable notice mechanism so applicants consistently receive information about port‑adjacent impacts. Several commissioners voiced concern that an advisory regime could, in practice, result in unpredictable conditions or slow approvals if not tightly scoped.

Ending

Staff said they will continue to refine the language, coordinate with port and neighborhood representatives, and return with clarified draft text; staff also agreed to draft clarifications that would exempt small additions from the large‑project threshold for port notification and to document timelines or procedures for port‑city communications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Everett Planning Commission meeting: April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff and Port of Everett representatives discussed proposed revisions to the port compatibility provisions in chapter 17, including replacing a mapped overlay with an 800‑foot textual description and clarifying notice and mitigation procedures for developments near port facilities.","taxTitle","Everett, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",2974,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269459,"Everett planning staff present draft development regulations, propose new zone framework and use rules",3913,563000,4476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042895-0fb4b6d4b85f91ca29ec06eed37f4dac&start=563&end=4476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042895-0fb4b6d4b85f91ca29ec06eed37f4dac/thumbnail_563000.jpg","/articles/6269459/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Everett-planning-staff-present-draft-development-regulations-propose-new-zone-framework-and-use-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269459-b88de0f1763d5a052a3a30fcc5bb35b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775299377&Signature=X2YFcjDTXNPIB5PTTsFkEPzBFuPy8slqXIvka-gIFVl5lX0l~bONzUsF7W92TOWxGrbk29gPVhRLvkdHishpgTo1NS0dY1yV54AySCSXJ12-enMRodMf8F0zWA~ucmifjMAXXEe8teT31pPtjKiMajyFktIiTl~4JyMgfbf55ERBjqwRB2gbEBYsIzWGOIlcPIwvwhORCDm3TqHQOnVBEqY18juNEq8oIeOg0CSFYMNnAbIDX5xf0OayoKiGcjmslymY5kwchLeV3QyiSx5FNU4cHdV~G7rFQ5YWiv44it0CXbtsF-onX7VC~jrEepiTPWPH6sri2lAg6sJDhqjsDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff presented a complete draft of Everett’s comprehensive plan and companion development regulations and asked the planning commission for feedback on specific zoning and use changes that will be part of the Everett 2044 update.

York Stevens Wojta, planning director, told commissioners the city had published the “04/07/2025 complete review draft” and opened a public comment period through May 12, and that the draft would go through further public hearings, including a city council session “tomorrow” and a planning commission hearing on May 6. “We have published a complete draft of the comprehensive plan and development regulations and made that available to the public for review and comment. We are in a comment period on this draft through May 12,” Stevens Wojta said.

Why it matters: The draft restructures residential and mixed‑use zoning across Everett and will guide where housing, commercial activity and light industry may locate for years to come. Commissioners pressed staff for specific limits and clarity on how the new zones will interact with lenders, childcare regulations, and industrial uses.

Key proposals and discussion

- New zone framework: Staff proposed replacing the four single‑family zones (RS/R1/R2/R2A) with a neighborhood residential (NR) zone and a neighborhood residential constrained zone intended to preserve existing development patterns in limited‑access areas. Urban residential zones would be named UR plus a number that denotes height (for example, “UR4” indicates a four‑floor urban residential zone). Stevens Wojta said the change was driven by the state middle‑housing requirements and the city’s goal to permit a wider range of housing types.

- Height, coverage and unit limits: For the neighborhood residential zone staff proposed a 35‑foot height limit, maximum lot coverage in the 50–60% range depending on unit count, and a 15‑by‑15 shared‑yard requirement for units not fronting a street. Staff said they would not “count doorknobs” — i.e., the code would not impose a prescriptive cap on unit counts on a lot but practical dimensional limits would constrain buildable units.

- Definitions and technical changes: The draft collapses multiple dwelling definitions into a single “dwelling” definition, clarifies what constitutes a separate kitchen (to prevent home‑occupation bakeries from being treated as a second dwelling), adds a park‑and‑ride definition to distinguish it from commercial parking, and aligns terms such as “sleeping unit/cohousing” with state law.

- Neighborhood commercial and adaptive reuse: Staff introduced a neighborhood commercial framework intended to support small‑scale, walkable businesses near arterials. The draft enumerates example uses (cafés, artists’ studios, social services, small libraries and similar uses) and includes an “other uses if compatible” clause. Adaptive reuse of nonresidential buildings was moved out of the use matrix into a dedicated section; staff said they will reconcile whether administrative review or other review pathways are needed when converting larger nonresidential buildings.

- Childcare and social services: The draft maps daycare and childcare uses across zones and flagged a reference note that currently limits neighborhood‑scale daycares to 3,000 square feet in some places. Commissioners asked staff to reconsider that cap and to ensure local code aligns with state licensing requirements that require outdoor play areas. Several commissioners urged broader allowances for childcare to address local shortages.

- Mini‑storage, light industrial and mixed‑use centers: The draft includes a proposed minimum floor‑area‑ratio requirement (FAR 2) for mini‑storage in mixed urban zones to encourage multi‑story development, effectively limiting single‑story mini‑storage. Staff proposed reclassifying some light industrial uses as administrative uses (staff approval with possible conditions) rather than conditional uses, and limiting light industrial in mixed‑use centers to 5,000 square feet gross floor area to favor “urban manufacturing” and small‑scale production rather than large warehouses. Commissioners asked staff to justify the 5,000 sq ft breakpoint and to keep the reference notes adjustable.

- Transit, parking and EV charging: Staff separated park‑and‑ride from commercial parking to ensure transit facilities associated with light rail and bus rapid transit are not treated the same as standalone commercial parking; they also acknowledged a gap for standalone electric vehicle charging facilities and said they would add a use or placeholder to address EV charging stations and associated electrical infrastructure.

Commissioner and staff follow‑ups

Commissioners asked staff to:
- Clarify how the new “dwelling” language will interact with mortgage lenders and programs such as Fannie Mae; staff noted a Fannie Mae search suggested eligibility if a use is legally permitted in the underlying zone, but promised to follow up with lenders.
- Revisit daycare size limits, parking and loading requirements tied to mini‑storage, and administrative review pathways for adaptive reuse in NR zones.
- Provide maps and examples showing where neighborhood commercial rules would apply (several commissioners requested the arterial map referenced in council discussions).

No formal vote

The planning commission took no formal vote on the draft regulations during the meeting; staff said they expect to revise the draft after public and council comment and then return a final supplemental environmental impact statement and a staff recommendation before the planning commission issues a formal recommendation to city council.

Ending

Staff requested additional written comments and said the full draft documents are available on everettwa.gov/2040four and in print at two libraries. Stevens Wojta told commissioners staff will consolidate comments into a report for the planning commission and city council and said parking, chapter 13 and a few other sections will appear in a second book of regulations to follow.","Planning staff presented a complete draft of Everett's comprehensive plan and development regulations and asked the planning commission for feedback on a new zone framework, reorganized use definitions and a set of limits and incentives intended to guide housing, commercial uses and light industry.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269456,"South Everett resident urges zoning overlay to protect Fairway Estates after rent hike",250,285000,535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042895-0fb4b6d4b85f91ca29ec06eed37f4dac&start=285&end=535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042895-0fb4b6d4b85f91ca29ec06eed37f4dac/thumbnail_285000.jpg","/articles/6269456/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/South-Everett-resident-urges-zoning-overlay-to-protect-Fairway-Estates-after-rent-hike","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269456-6f853e9dc1850fce4b5d5c5ea20a546e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775299377&Signature=MdFazTYf2q2xOG-sXLF-j0QdmPBDp185kyBRBU~rwFMm0uA-TdoMq0fjwVCCi9o4caURpmMgpZfhaGG62knPAgreBSamMqbzLoW~yFCeKKdckDRxfSt~K0jvQvxZnBdNgJOrT53hQLk-jfZkouKgsuJB0YWmDzKZ9SqJjh2aUY4wlH2GNNI385xOHuiKdmRMgmOhNWSIzp9fLQlr9h~DR1XvcqJF~fO6dHV6o8YDMQuga3IV4yUrT38LqjrqwQvoqlvPhP1pfdXBMD9jLFjd7K4xC3qmcScd3iMG0NP0JqDVX9NHanMVU5TG864AEL7q6AEJ7mSgv0FxjP3fpbsLuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeanette Burton, a South Everett resident, urged the planning commission to adopt a zoning overlay to protect Fairway Estates, a 55+ manufactured‑home park she said houses 171 units and about 260 residents.

“I live in a 55 plus mobile home park… Fairway Estates. There are 171 units with 260 residents,” Jeanette Burton said during the public‑comment period. Burton described the park as a community that includes “30 veteran families” and said the property recently changed hands to a private equity investor. “Last year, the Carlyle Group ripped the band aid off. They took my rent from 850 dollars a month to $1,665 a month, which is a 96% increase,” she said.

Why it matters: Burton told commissioners that residents on fixed incomes fear displacement and homelessness if monthly lot rents continue to rise. She asked the city to create a mobile‑home overlay to preserve the park and protect veterans and elderly residents.

What Burton asked the commission to do

- Adopt a zoning overlay to protect Fairway Estates and similar manufactured‑home parks from redevelopment that would displace current residents.
- Preserve the park as affordable housing for seniors and veterans; Burton said that many residents bought their manufactured homes and pay lot lease fees rather than traditional mortgages.

Staff response

Planning staff acknowledged Burton's remarks and encouraged her to submit a written statement to ensure city leaders and decision‑makers have her full testimony on file. “I'd encourage you to email that in, so other city leaders can be aware of this issue,” the chair said after the comment; no formal staff action or vote was taken during the meeting.

Ending

Burton closed by urging action to preserve veteran and elderly households at Fairway Estates; commissioners did not vote on the request during the meeting but staff invited submitted written comments and said the comprehensive plan and development regulations are under public comment through May 12.","A South Everett resident told the planning commission she and neighbors face possible displacement after a corporate owner nearly doubled monthly lot rents; she asked the city to create a mobile‑home park zoning overlay to preserve the community.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission and Port of Everett staff discuss port compatibility overlay, commissioners seek clarity on scope and enforcement

Everett planning staff present draft development regulations, propose new zone framework and use rules

South Everett resident urges zoning overlay to protect Fairway Estates after rent hike