Everett council weighs broad rezoning in 2044 comprehensive plan; votes to protect parts of Madrona Avenue and parkland near Phil Johnson Field

Everett City Council members on June 4 heard a detailed briefing from the planning director and hours of public comment on the proposed Everett 2044 Comprehensive Plan and related updates to development regulations, then voted to rezone a stretch of Madrona Avenue as “neighborhood residential constrained” and to designate four transfer lots near Phil Johnson Field as parks/open space.

The planning director, York Stevens Wojcick, told the council the package pairs a new comprehensive plan and a set of code changes so that both will take effect together once adopted. Wojcick said, “All of the materials are available at Everettwa.gov/2040four,” and described the packet’s highlighted changes, the final environmental impact statement and the zoning swipe map now posted online. A public hearing on the plan is scheduled for June 11, with a third and final council reading set for June 18.

Why it matters: the plan and regulation changes establish where denser housing, small-scale neighborhood commerce and multifamily buildings can be built in Everett and update parking, height and design rules. Councilors and residents said the changes could help address housing shortages and shelter needs but also raised concerns about preserving historic neighborhoods, local traffic and impacts on immediate neighbors.

Planning staff summarized several substantive edits from earlier drafts: adjustments to accessory-dwelling-unit rules to maintain “do no harm” access, reduced rear setbacks to extend flexibility for ADUs, clarifications for neighborhood residential site plan standards (for example, dwellings within 30 feet of a public street must face the street), revisions to inclusionary-housing thresholds and fee-in-lieu mechanics, and updates to parking rules to reflect recent state limits on off-street parking requirements.

Public commenters urged both more housing and protections for neighborhoods. Lindsay Gagnon, executive director of Interfaith Family Shelter, said the city “really needs more shelter beds and affordable housing to meet the projected needs in our future,” and noted the agency’s waiting list and local shelter capacity. Samara Kogan, who said she has been a homeowner in Everett since 2021, similarly urged support for rezoning to increase housing and shelter beds.

Opposition and neighborhood-safety concerns came from other speakers. Madeline Shepherd, who said she lives in Northwest Everett, criticized planning staff and council direction on historic-overlay requests and told the council, “Stop ignoring us,” during an emotional exchange with the council president. Jean Sette Hewitt, vice chair of the Historic Commission and a resident of the Norton/Grand overlay, asked the council to require transition zones so new higher buildings do not abut one- and two-story historic houses.

Council debate focused on balancing neighborhood needs and broader housing goals. Council President Schwab and Council Vice President Zorlingo emphasized that the planning commission and staff have done a heavy lift producing materials and recommended public review. Council members discussed neighborhood-commercial rules, with Vice President Zorlingo saying the subcommittee will continue work on which commercial uses to allow and how to limit parking impacts. Council member Vogeli recommended focusing initially on small food and convenience uses and limiting higher-impact categories (for example, larger fitness or entertainment venues) until the zone proves workable.

Votes and motions: the council approved a motion to rezone Madrona Avenue — the motion was seconded and passed by roll call (Zorlingo: Yes; Bader: Yes; Ryan: Yes; Vogeli: Abstain; Tuohy: Yes; Schwab: Yes). Council President Schwab then moved to rezone the four transfer lots near Phil Johnson Field to parks/open space; that motion passed on roll call (Zorlingo: Yes; Bader: Yes; Ryan: Yes; Vogeli: Yes; Tuohy: Yes; Schwab: Yes). Planning staff said rezoning the transfer lots to parks/open space would not interfere with a two‑year women-and‑children’s shelter currently approved for the area but noted the change may affect longer-term property use and grant eligibility.

The planning commission recommended approval of the May 30 draft but separately recommended removing the inclusionary-zoning provisions for the two South Everett subareas and pursuing a subarea planning process instead. Commissioners voted to remove inclusionary zoning from the package over concerns it could suppress housing production; commissioners first considered a three‑year sunset, then moved to full removal. That recommendation now sits before council; if council wants the change adopted it must amend the draft ordinance accordingly.

Next steps: the council will hold a public hearing on the comprehensive plan on June 11 and a final vote is scheduled for June 18. Council members indicated they will work with planning staff on targeted amendments, including proposals to protect historic overlays and to refine neighborhood-commercial rules. Planning staff noted the zoning swipe map available on the project web page reflects the May 30 draft.

Ending note: the package is extensive and procedural: if the council adopts the ordinance on June 18 the updated comprehensive plan and matched development regulations would go into effect together; several council members said they intend to continue refining rules before the final vote to reduce unintended neighborhood impacts.