ARLINGTON — A written plan is coming together for more than 4,000 acres in Arlington and Marysville that are a focal point for job growth in the next 20 years.
The document is the next step in gaining regional recognition for the Arlington-Marysville Manufacturing Industrial Center. Leaders and planners in both cities have been working on the project for the better part of a decade.
The cities have teamed up to define how the area will develop, including streets, trails, types of businesses and buildings, and open spaces. A draft was finished in September. The cities aim to adopt a final plan this winter.
The goal is to have at least 20,000 people employed in the manufacturing center by 2040, according to the draft. A 2016 count showed about 7,600 people working in that area, meaning more than 12,000 jobs would be needed in the next 22 years. A market analysis expects that job growth could range from 8,560 to 25,000 new positions in that time frame.
Nearly half of the land in the planning area is ready to be developed or redeveloped, according to the draft.
The center could include businesses that deal with manufacturing, packaging, storage, wholesale trade, printing and publishing, automobiles, recycling and more.
Aerospace, food processing, maritime and wood products are on a list of desired industries.
The area is east of I-5 and bisected by Highway 531. The Arlington Municipal Airport and Marysville’s Smokey Point area fall within its boundaries.
There are goals to widen and improve roads in the next decade, among them Highway 531, which also is 172nd Street NE. New connecting streets are to be added, as well.
Planners also have noted the need for off-street pedestrian and bicycle trails, as well as access to public transportation. Currently, traffic is made difficult by trucks, cars, trains and non-motorized transportation using the same crossings or intersections. Topics such as driver-less cars and computer-connected vehicles, and what that could mean for traffic flow, are mentioned.
Key road improvements could total $175 million, according to the draft. That includes a new interchange at I-5 and 156th Street NE. The projects would require a mix of federal, state and local funding.
It’s not just about traffic.
Edgecomb Creek would be realigned and restored under the draft. There would be wider buffers of vegetation and better fish habitat. Tens of millions of dollars would go toward projects such as the creek work and new water mains.
A public meeting about the plan is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Crown Distributing, 17117 59th Ave. NE. A presentation starts at 5:30 p.m.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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