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Planning commission debates rezoning along Airport Road to prepare for Paine Field and light rail
Summary
On April 1, 2025, the Everett Planning Commission discussed whether to rezone parcels along Airport Road from light industrial to a light-industrial mixed-use category to allow airport-serving commercial uses and support possible transit-oriented development near Paine Field and planned light-rail stations.
On April 1, 2025, the Everett Planning Commission spent substantial time discussing whether parcels fronting Airport Road should be transitioned from light industrial zoning to a light-industrial mixed-use designation to support airport-serving commerce and possible transit-oriented development.
The proposal — raised by a commissioner during the meeting — would adjust zoning roughly from state Route 99 east to the city boundary near 103rd Street, changing parcels that front Airport Road or parcels within about 500 feet to allow a wider set of commercial uses closer to planned transit stops and Paine Field-related growth.
Planning staff cautioned against an immediate wholesale rezoning without a focused subarea planning effort. Planning staff said the city is “overdue” on a subarea plan for the Southwest Everett Industrial Center under Puget Sound Regional Council requirements and recommended using that project to evaluate industrial zoning, setbacks, lot coverage and where mixed uses might appropriately be allowed.
Staff summarized three strands of context driving the discussion: the city
(Note: content intentionally truncated in excerpt for clarity.)
Staff said the subarea plan could be one of the first projects in the next work program because the city is overdue on the regional requirement, and that the scope could include both a manufacturing/industrial subarea plan and a broader review of the city
Staff told the commission: “Im personally pretty hesitant to release any industrial zoning, without very careful study. ... The staff recommendation will be at this time to leave it as light industrial.”
Commissioners and staff discussed the trade-offs between protecting large-format industrial land that supports manufacturing and jobs and creating locations for hotels, restaurants and other uses that would serve airport passengers, airport employees and riders arriving by future light rail. Staff noted that some airport-serving uses (for example, hotels) are allowed in the light-industrial mixed-use zone but not in a traditional light-industrial zone, while some industrial uses (for example, heavy truck and equipment sales) would remain allowed in the light-industrial zone and might not be permitted in a mixed-use designation.
Staff and commissioners identified several next steps: coordinate a joint subarea planning effort with Snohomish County (because some industrial land extends into unincorporated county territory), consult the citys economic development director, and scope a review of development standards (setbacks, lot coverage, building form) to determine where a limited transition to mixed uses might be appropriate.
No formal motion or vote was taken on rezoning at the meeting; a commissioner said they would not ask the commission to take a formal position at this time.
