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Council begins process to allow transfer of city utility land for affordable housing under state law
Summary
Staff presented a first reading of an ordinance to add procedures (EMC chapter 3.84) implementing RCW 39.33.0.015 so Everett can transfer or lease surplus utility properties for affordable housing; council asked about neighbor notification and requested a list of candidate properties.
Kimber Landry, community development manager, briefed council on a first-reading ordinance that would add procedural sections to chapter 3.84 of the Everett Municipal Code in order to implement RCW 39.33.0.015. "That statute... gives the city the authority to transfer, sell, or lease real property, held by enterprise funds, for public benefit," Landry said, adding that the changes would allow transfers or leases to support affordable housing and that council must adopt procedures before staff can use that authority.
Landry and housing policy staff said the city maintains informal reviews of city-owned properties and is engaged in preliminary talks with developers and funders; they emphasized no project is yet confirmed for the site at 6731 Beverly Boulevard. Council Vice President Ryan asked whether the procedures would include direct neighbor notification such as postcards; Landry said she would research the notification specifics and return with details at the next reading.
Council also heard that a separate resolution (item 26) would transfer the specific Beverly Boulevard parcel from the utility fund into the city's affordable housing fund before staff seek development partners and return proposed agreements to council for approval.
