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Staff: grant writer pursuing Department of Commerce funds for Highway 99 subarea plan
Summary
Planning staff said a grant application is in progress to fund a Highway-99 subarea plan; the program treats cities under 10,000 as rural, appears to require a 20% local match and could provide modest planning funds and unlock larger infrastructure grants later.
At the end of the agenda, Planning Manager Sollnecker reported that the city's grant writer, Kristen, has engaged a Department of Commerce subagency that funds rural economic-development planning. Sollnecker said the program considers cities under 10,000 to be rural and that the initial planning grant appears to carry an approximate 20% local match. "It sounds like that, they it sounded pretty much like you fill out the application correctly and you get this money," Sollnecker said, adding an estimate of roughly $7,500 in planning funds and noting the program could also lead to larger infrastructure grants if the city meets certain triggers.
Why it matters: Staff said a subarea plan for business zones along Highway 99 would help the city engage property owners and refine frontage, sidewalk and design guidance ahead of future development. Sollnecker said the subarea plan could support future zoning or design guideline changes and that contract planning services could help implement the work. Staff will continue the grant-application process and keep the commission updated.
Next steps: Manager Sollnecker said, if the grant is awarded, the city would start the subarea planning process mid-year and coordinate closely with local stakeholders and Sound Transit on frontage and infrastructure priorities.
