Edmonds’ waterfront has a new buzzword: “code compliant.”

Frustrated with private redevelopment plans for the waterfront, three members of Edmonds’ City Council suggested Nov. 20 that the city should explore different, “code compliant” options.

Instead of proposed six-story buildings, redevelopment should stay within existing codes ¿ which would cap buildings at 25-feet on much of the property, said Councilmember Michael Plunkett, who called for the creation of a redevelopment task force.

Councilmember Mauri Moore, whose term ends in January, said she was “eager to apply public money” to create alternatives for the site. Councilmember Dave Orvis said he would “love to spend more time” on a code compliant option.

The 20-acre redevelopment site is owned by two private companies and the Port of Edmonds. The city of Edmonds doesn’t own any of the land for the site.

The property owners are undergoing an extensive public design process which they say will lead towards a contract rezone request in 2008.

A contract rezone would likely ease building height restrictions in exchange for public amenities like public squares, green spaces and possibly pedestrian overpasses bridging the railway.

It would be difficult for the city to design a new project for the property, but there are ways for the city to get involved, experts said.

Reviews of the comprehensive plan, or of the rules governing a zoning district are appropriate ways for a city to examine the uses of private property, Snyder said. It is problematic for cities to design projects on private property that might eventually be used in development applications, he said.

Because Edmonds can get involved doesn’t necessarily mean Edmonds will, Mayor Gary Haakenson said.

None of the councilmembers took any formal steps towards involvement in the redevelopment process, he said. Nor did anybody asked for city staff to do anything.

“Until I hear things along those lines, I am going to assume (those comments) were just council discussion,” he said. “Frankly, if the council is concerned about buildings that are taller than 25- or 30-feet, then the codes in place already take care of that.

“I just do not believe that our place is to design their project for them,” Haakenson said.

Port of Edmonds director Chris Keuss, who has been the spokesperson for the property owners, was unavailable for comment this week.

But, the city’s input would not necessarily be welcome, one of the other property owners said.

Code compliant development is in nobody’s best interest, said Al Dykes, who owns the Edmonds Shopping Center Associates and the Antique Mall.

“I have tried to put out a vision that will tremendously enhance Edmonds, both from an economic and a visual point of view. I have continually had vigorous opposition that does not want anything to occur,” Dykes said. “If the ‘do-nothing’ crowd ultimately gets their way, the end result will not be the best doorway to Edmonds.”

Any project that is required to be code compliant “will be a sea of surface parking that will visually degrade” the Edmonds waterfront, Dykes complained.

While three councilmembers were vocal in their support for code compliant options, others were more skeptical.

“The private property owners have a process,” said Council president Peggy Pritchard Olson. “Nobody has said what has been presented is the end result.”