Resolution 6712 - Laserfiche WebLink

3.7 Public Access 1. Public access shall be required to the extent allowed by law in the review of all shoreline substantial development and conditional use permits (including land division), except for projects which meet the following criteria (omitted): 2. Public access shall be provided on-site, except for projects which meet the following criteria as determined by the Planning Director or Hearing Examiner(a-c omitted): d. The provision of on-site public access is not practical (e.g. small or odd shaped lots, lots where functional requirements of primary use would hinder access). e. More meaningful access that is better than that provided by the application of the goals, objectives and policies of this plan can be provided off-site. 3. Projects which meet the criteria in Regulation 2 above, must either construct off-site improvements or, if approved by the Planning Director, contribute to a public access fund established by the City to construct off-site public access improvements of comparable value. 6. Where a project is located within an area covered by an adopted public access plan, public access improvements shall be generally consistent with the adopted plan. However, the City may approve an alternative proposed by the Applicant that meets the goals, objectives and policies in this SMP. Adopted public access plans include, but are not limited to, An Urban Design Plan for Everett Harborfront, Everett Harborfront Public Access Plan, Everett Central City Development Plan, a Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan for Everett's Snohomish Riverfront, the Non-Motorized Transportation (Trail) Plan, or as such shall be superseded or amended. 8. Where the required public access improvements are part of an integrated system to be accomplished through a public/private effort, the City may permit the applicant to pay an amount equal to the construction cost of the required improvements in lieu of developing the improvements at the time of development. The funds from this permit will be designated by the City for a programmed capital improvement project which includes the public access improvements required by the project permit. The intent of this provision is to allow greater flexibility and cost effectiveness in creating a public access system that could be achieved if elements of the system were constructed individually. Staff Comment:The applicant's property has shoreline frontage to the south. Public shoreline access was constructed on that property several years ago in conjunction with the SR 527 improvements and an easement agreement with the City. As that property is already improved, the applicant is proposing to meet public access requirements by 1) contributing $69,000 to the Everett Parks Department for improvements to Green Lantern Park, 2) providing a public path that extends from the north end of the site (110th Street SE) to the south end which creates direct access for the neighborhood to the lake, and 3) providing for public use of the gathering spot at the southeast corner of the site, which will be improved with a picnic table, lawn and landscaping. See recommended condition no. 30. 11. Public access sites shall be connected directly to the nearest public street or trail. Staff Comment: The existing trail on the south side of 19th Ave NE and the proposed improvements at Green Lantern Park connects to 19th Ave SE and are a part of a long term trail plan that circles Silver Lake. The proposed access path on the upland site connects 110th Street SE with 19th Ave SE. 4