Resolution 7700 - Laserfiche WebLink

2. Development on Urban Corridors Everett Housing Action Plan 27 RECOMMENDATIONS Short-term Recommendations 2.1: Provide adjustments to development requirements in the zoning code to encourage new housing development in urban corridors. The Rethink Zoning effort resulted in development code changes enacted by Everett in late 2020. These amendments provided more favorable regulatory conditions for housing development on corridors with frequent transit service. However, additional changes should be considered as part of future code amendments. The City should look to coordinate the following:  Evaluate the setback and upper story step back requirements for buildings in the B and MU zones to see if they are necessary and sufficient to achieve their objectives.  Explore “missing middle” housing options such as duplexes and up to 4 attached townhouse units in R-2 zones within a transit overlay. Design guidelines should be established to prevent adverse impacts to neighbors. Allowing duplexes and townhomes may be subject to special conditions such as requiring vehicular access from an alley.  Study the setback and dimensional standards for residential and mixed-use buildings on transit corridors to ensure that unnecessary restrictions do not hinder effective use of properties directly on the arterials. Consider requiring sidewalks and street trees on all street fronts adjacent to the developed property.  Study measures to provide a better transition between the commercial and mixed-use zones on transit corridors and adjacent R-1 and R-2 zones. This could involve solutions such as a transition zone or overlay, as well as refining design standards for the sides of new development projects facing R-1 and R-2 zones. 2.2: Provide a detailed economic study of potential incentives in urban corridors.  To supplement the work developed as part of this Plan, the City should pursue a more detailed evaluation of potential options for incentives that could encourage market-rate and affordable housing development along urban corridors. This may include changes to local MFTE requirements (Chapter 3.78 EMC), bonuses under the development height incentives program (Chapter 19.22 EMC), and other programs, as well as implementation of new programs to provide additional support for new projects.  When implemented, these programs should be evaluated with benchmarks and metrics over the long-term to determine the uptake of these benefits and their likely effects on housing production. This should be integrated into long-term monitoring as defined in Recommendation 2.7 below.