MOUNTLAKE TERRACE—The City Council Tuesday, Sept. 4 agreed to new rules that open the door to revitalization of downtown over the next 18 years.
Six new ordinances set the framework for zoning, capital improvements and environmental mitigation, as well as how much money developers must pay to offset the impacts their projects will have on transportation and to help pay for a new downtown park plaza.
In February, the council approved the Town Center Plan but left zoning decisions until after completion of an environmental impact study and Planned Action Ordinance.
The Town Center Plan allows for creation of new buildings up and down 56th Avenue West. Building heights would generally be three-to four stories, though buildings up to five stories high would be allowed at the intersection of 236th Street Southwest and 56th Avenue West.
Seven-story high buildings would be allowed within a single block designated as the epicenter of the project. Upper stories would be tiered back from the street.
The new park, expected to be located within the main town square, is estimated to cost $3.8 million. That estimate includes purchase of land, adding improvements, a water feature, landscaping and benches.
Council members spent little time discussing the ordinances, which were the subject of public hearings before the Planning Commission Aug. 13 and the council on Aug. 20.
Councilman Doug Wittinger, the only council member to vote against each ordinance, urged the majority to explain their votes and asked, “When are we going to start talking about the impacts to people?”
Leonard French, who’s challenging Mayor pro tem Laura Sonmore for her council seat, criticized the “silence of the majority” for not examining the plan’s potential costs, ignoring a citizens petition indicating opposition to the Town Center Plan, and not fully taking into account future population impacts on traffic in nearby neighborhoods.
Shirley Malloy, another frequent critic of the plan, said more modest zoning would have been better and 7-foot high buildings are unnecessary.
“Our little city is not here for the purpose of high rise and high fives,” she said.
Michael Jones, who lost a bid for a council seat in 2005, said he supports the plan.
“I’m so proud to see you do this,” said Michael Jones, a resident. “I applaud you for the direction you’ve taken with the Town Center.”
Planning Director Shane Hope said developers can now propose projects under the specific zoning guidelines specified for Town Center.
“There are a number of developers that have been inquiring but none of them are spending money on drawing up plans yet,” she said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
