The lateness of the hour and four public hearings crowding Tuesday night’s agenda prompted the Edmonds City Council to continue until Oct. 24 further discussion and possible action on creating a multiple-zone downtown.
Under consideration are new downtown zones that will divide downtown into five sub-districts containing their own unique mix of uses and zoning regulations. A new zoning map will be accompanied by a matrix that explains what uses are permitted, require a conditional use permit or are prohibited.
The new plan will simplify both the public’s and Development Services staff’s understanding of what is allowed downtown, explained Rob Chave, planning manager for the City.
Although downtown property owners and tenants will be the most keenly affected by the proposed changes, the public should notice some, too. One significant change is expected to be the formation of an arts corridor that contains, and encourages development to support, the new Edmonds Center for the Arts.
Another is that there likely will be no more buildings that loom three stories over the street such as The Gregory, the condominium complex on Fifth Avenue South that is being rebuilt after an arson fire last winter, noted Chave. It’s expected that three-story buildings in the downtown area will have to be stepped back in order to appear to be two stories high from the street level.
When finalized, the council action will represent inclusion in the zoning code of only the basic requirements for building downtown. It will leave details such as color of buildings and use of specific building materials to the discretion of the builder with, where required, input during the design phase from the Architectural Design Board and neighborhood, Chave said.
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