Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Residents tell council to slow zoning changes, explain ARPA concerns and ask for transparency
Summary
Two residents used public comment to press the council on proposed citywide zoning changes, the effect of the TDM ordinance on parking, slow release of ARPA funds and perceived favoritism toward developers; they asked for consultant findings and annual reports to be released.
Public commenters at the Everett City Council meeting urged the council to delay citywide zoning changes until consultants finish a recodification and to provide greater transparency about ARPA spending. Peggy Serino criticized recent vehicle purchases and broader fiscal choices, and asked whether zoning changes would primarily benefit developers rather than residents. "Are the zoning changes gonna benefit the people of Everett? Are the construction and developer friends of the guy in the corner office gonna benefit?" she asked.
A second speaker (Paulus Reidy) warned that the city's Transportation Demand Management policy has reduced parking availability and shifted variances from exceptions into common practice; he cited proposed changes in special-permit thresholds and told the council it should not accept wholesale changes before consultant recommendations are final. Reidy also asked why $1,000,000 earmarked in ARPA had not been released to an Everett U counsel and suggested exploring a $10 million ARPA investment to attract a grocery store to the city.
Councilors noted the issues and referred some items back to sponsors and committees for follow-up; the council did not adopt policy changes during the public-comment period.
