By Janice Podsada
Herald Writer
MUKILTEO — This city enjoys its share of government surplus.
This year, the U.S. Coast Guard turned over its lighthouse to the city, then the state turned over Mukilteo state park.
Now Mukilteo is set to lay claim to yet another piece of federal property.
A bill authorizing the transfer of the Mukilteo tank farm to the Port of Everett and the city of Mukilteo is expected to become law by the end of the month.
The city and the port are looking forward to taking possession of the tank farm, which is owned by the U.S. Air Force. The former petroleum fuel storage tank farm, built in the 1940s, has mostly sat unused the since the ’70s. The tanks were removed in 1996.
Mukilteo City Council president Cathy Reese said the federal transfer process will take about 18 months due to the paperwork involved.
In the meantime, city officials hope to organize a series of public hearings to give residents the opportunity to have a say on how the waterfront is to be developed.
The port will retain ownership, but he waterfront will be developed under guidelines set by Mukilteo’s comprehensive plan.
Legislation by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., authorizing the transfer of the property was passed by the Senate this month. The bill must gain approval at an upcoming House-Senate conference before it can be signed into law, but approval is expected by the end of the month, said Ed Paskovskis, deputy executive director of the port.
"This is the first major step in developing the site and returning it to public use," Paskovskis said.
The Air Force will turn over all but one of the 20.9 acres. A one-acre parcel will be held by the National Marine Fisheries Service, which has a research facility at the site.
The arrangement has been in place since May 1999, when the port, the state Department of Transportation, Sound Transit and the cities of Everett and Mukilteo entered into an agreement to develop the former tank farm. The port owns the ferry dock and leases it to the state.
The transportation agencies will develop plans to relocate the Mukilteo ferry terminal several hundred yards to the east, construct a parking facility for commuters and build a boarding platform for train passengers.
The city, on the other hand, is responsible for developing some of the "more fun" aspects, Mukilteo Mayor Don Doran said. In the planning is a park and boardwalk, as well as residential and commercial space.
The Mukilteo City Council has authority over how the waterfront area will be zoned. "We’re looking at a waterfront promenade for pedestrians, a park and maybe a farmer’s market," Reese said.
With the impending transfer, Doran said the city can get started on the project in earnest.
"Now we can roll up our sleeves and get to work," Doran said.
You can call Herald Writer Janice Podsada at 425-339-3029 or send e-mail to podsada@heraldnet.com.
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