EVERETT — The city wants to know what the public thinks about proposed standards that would potentially affect nearly every aspect of future building projects along Evergreen Way, down to how developers would handle parking, landscaping and drive-through windows.
For more than a year, the city and consultants have worked on a plan for the busy north-south corridor.
Now they’re ready to hear back about proposed zoning changes. The city could create an Evergreen Way zone that would stretch the entire commercial corridor and establish a mixed-used overlay zone that would add additional standards to areas surrounding Swift Bus Rapid Transit stations.
The proposed standards would not seek to change existing buildings. Rather, the goal is to slowly change the character of the corridor over time as new developments are built and buildings are remodeled.
The changes are aimed at creating a very different type of development than what’s largely present now, one focused on improving the overall character of Evergreen Way.
Around transit stations, extra regulations would encourage pedestrian-friendly, higher-density development. Developers would be offered incentives for creating such development.
All new buildings around transit stations, for instance, would be built closer to the street with wider sidewalks and trees.
The city also has specific expectations about the appearance and materials used on new buildings. For instance, while the draft says the city desires a variety of architectural elements and characteristics, new buildings should not exhibit “specifically historical styles and themes such as Bavarian or Colonial.”
A draft of the 62-page standards are available online at the city’s website.
The city is zeroing in on a stretch of Evergreen Way from 41st Street to Gibson Road, the farthest south the city plans to grow. An additional federal grant also will allow the city to have a say in planning beyond city limits, all the way to 148th Street SW. Everett is working on that portion with the city of Mukilteo and Snohomish County.
A public workshop is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Evergreen Middle School Commons, 7621 Beverly Lane to provide an update on the project and to take a first look recommendations for the corridor.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197; dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Learn more
A public workshop is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Evergreen Middle School Commons, 7621 Beverly Lane to provide an update about the city of Everett’s Evergreen Way Revitalization Plan and to take a first look recommendations for the corridor.
Information is available online at the city’s website at http://tinyurl.com/EvergreenWayPlan. A draft of the zoning plan also is available with the story at heraldnet.com
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