Casino Road residents urge protections in Everett 2044 update to prevent displacement

Dozens of Casino Road residents and community groups told the Everett Planning Commission on May 6 they want the city to adopt specific anti-displacement measures as part of the Everett 2044 comprehensive plan update.

The comments, submitted in a public hearing and by petition, urged the commission to adopt recommendations developed with Futurewise, LISC and Connect Casino Road, and to preserve local programs and neighborhood services so longtime residents can remain as the area sees new transit and housing investment. "Casino Road is not just a planning zone. It is people's homes. It is people's life, and it's people's future," said Alvaro Yulin during public comment.

Why it matters: Casino Road is home to a concentration of small, culturally diverse businesses, nonprofits and programs that residents say provide services and workforce pathways for families in the neighborhood. Speakers said recent and proposed redevelopment and transit investments raise the risk of displacement for low-income households, many of whom depend on Social Security or work multiple jobs.

Community testimony and demands

Multiple speakers said the neighborhood has received inadequate attention and requested that the planning commission fully incorporate the community-driven recommendations submitted in a Futurewise advisory memo and a petition with more than 30 local organizations. Antonio Fajardo Mora emphasized the local human impacts, saying that families would lose access to more than two dozen programs offered by The Village on Casino Road if displacement continues.

Futurewise director Jasmine Smith summarized outreach findings: "The biggest issues we heard about were the cost of housing and affordability, the need for a variety of housing types to meet the needs of families as much as individuals, and providing protections to ensure that, neither neighbors nor neighborhood businesses risk displacement." Bobby Thompson, executive director of the Housing Consortium of Everett and Snohomish County, urged the commission to adopt anti-displacement policies, inclusionary zoning, zoning flexibility on faith-owned land and other measures "as a comprehensive strategy to ensure equity, stability, and community."

What the commission and staff said

Planning Director York Stevens Wojta told speakers the planning commission will continue considering those public comments as staff prepares a final draft for recommendation to the city council. Staff outlined upcoming public events and decision points: an open house on May 8 at the Carl Gibson Center, a planning commission meeting on May 20, a city council briefing and public hearing on May 21, and the planning commission recommendation expected June 3, with council ordinance readings in June.

Next steps

Speakers and staff agreed there are more opportunities to submit written comments; the city is accepting public comment through the environmental review period noted by staff. The commission did not take any policy votes on Casino Road protections at the May 6 meeting; commissioners and staff indicated they would return with revised text and options in a subsequent meeting.