Planning commission reviews housekeeping amendments to Everett 2044 zoning code

City planning staff presented the first batch of housekeeping amendments to Everett’s revised development regulations during the Everett Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 19. York Stevens Wojc, the city’s planning director, told commissioners the ordinances implementing Everett 2044 became effective July 8 and staff are now ironing out drafting errors, clarifications and minor consistency issues in Title 19. The changes aim to correct numbering and wording, clarify terms that affect design standards and provide limited exemptions for minor remodels, staff said. "The baseline and easiest thing is to just delete the definition," York Stevens Wojc said of the definition for "street facing dwelling unit facade," a deletion staff said would make related rules apply to whole facades rather than only ground-floor portions within 30 feet of the public right-of-way. Why it matters: several of the edits affect how permit reviewers and applicants will interpret building design rules such as the 15% transparency requirement for street-facing facades, front-porch definitions and garage setback rules. Commissioners and staff flagged the potential for differing interpretations if the glossary term is removed versus if its applicability (30 feet and ground-floor limits) is restated in the substantive sections. Staff explained specific changes and their rationale: the proposed deletion of the older "street facing dwelling unit facade" glossary entry; clarification that "public street" means the public right-of-way; a decision to treat front porches as covered (otherwise a stoop); a narrowed applicability for some garage provisions (stepping back garages 5 feet from the 30-foot zone triggers a 35-foot measure in the code); moving the inclusionary zoning rules into a standalone chapter to improve clarity; changing the assumed height where a development abuts property outside city limits from 28 feet to 35 feet to match neighboring Snohomish County norms; and correction of statutory citations (staff agreed to change a cross-reference to read "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended"). Commissioners asked staff to return with tighter language where intent matters. Commissioner Shelby said, "I mean, I always think less is more, so I'm definitely favorite," expressing support for simplifying the definitions. Chair Chatters asked staff to research whether the provisions should explicitly be limited to the first 30 feet or ground floor where community safety and visibility were a concern. No formal adoption or vote on the housekeeping ordinance package occurred at the Aug. 19 meeting; staff said they will refine language, consult the city code reviser and the online codified title, and return with revised draft language and explanatory materials. York Stevens Wojc said staff are preparing FAQs, web pages and guidance documents to help applicants and the public understand the new rules. Looking ahead: staff indicated the code reviser and the city’s consultant that maintains the online Title 19 are still applying ordinance edits and that additional technical corrections are expected. Commissioners asked for specific follow-ups on the applicability of transparency and street-facing requirements and for clearer cross-references before a formal hearing and recommendation.