99 parking stalls at the Mukilteo waterfront get stalled

MUKILTEO — The opening of a new parking lot with 99 spaces operated by the Port of Everett at the Mukilteo waterfront has been delayed.

The port had hoped to open the lot on Friday in time for Labor Day weekend, when it would take ownership of the Front Street property that was the holding lanes for the former ferry terminal site.

Catherine Soper, port spokesperson, said by email Thursday there was “a snag with the permitting interpretation for the property that wasn’t anticipated.”

“We have been told this could delay opening of the lot up to 120 days, but hopefully more like 30 to 45 days,” Soper wrote. “We respect the City’s (Mukilteo) permitting process and will continue to work as fast as we can to get this lot open to the community. But this does mean that the Port will not be able to open the lot for the Labor Day holiday or during the annual Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, which is disappointing.”

Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine said incomplete permit information from the port is the holdup.

“We are still waiting for a completed application,” Marine said Thursday. “I would love for them to be open for Friday. We desperately need the parking. Legally, I can’t allow them to open it without the proper permit. There is a process we have to go through. I can’t waive it for the port or anybody else. I can have staff do it as quick as possible.”

The City Council earlier this summer approved the conditional use of the lot for commercial parking, but the permit to actually make it a commercial lot is a separate matter, he said.

Before striking a deal with the port, the lot was privately owned and had been leased to the state for ferry traffic. It has been fenced for the past two summers.

The port has been displaying signs by the lot promoting a Sept. 2 opening, with rates starting at $2.50 an hour, with parking 10 to 24 hours for $28 and monthly rates at $300.

Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterbrown.