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EVERETT 2044 <br />COMPREHENSIVE PLAN <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 6/17/2025 <br />COMPREHENSIVE PLAN <br />URBAN FORM ELEMENT <br /> Page 25 <br />features—ravines, streams and sloughs, wetlands, and large forested areas, such as Pigeon Creek No. 1, <br />Narbeck Wetlands, and the Snohomish River valley. Other undeveloped green spaces along <br />transportation routes often serve as habitat corridors for wildlife. <br />Design with Nature for Sustainability <br />Everett’s quality of life depends on maintaining clean air, water, soil, and healthy environment overall. <br />Although over time, much of Everett’s natural environment was converted to urban use, there are still <br />many critical areas that are only slightly or moderately disturbed. Many of the remaining undeveloped <br />areas of the city are located on hillsides or in ravines where steep slopes and unstable soils have <br />discouraged development. <br />The City strives to provide a sustainable urban environment while protecting the natural environment, <br />to maintain clean air, water, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Limiting development near or prohibiting <br />development in critical areas enhances natural ecosystems, protects water quality, provides plant and <br />animal habitat, and contributes to community health and property values. The location of critical areas <br />within the broader landscape is an important characteristic which determines its function and value. <br />Maintaining green spaces with healthy trees and other vegetation increases community resilience to <br />some adverse impacts of climate change by slowing, filtering, and storing rainfall, thereby delaying <br />stormwater runoff, and reducing erosion and flooding. Vegetated areas provide shade and reduce <br />temperatures from summer solar heat and ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Increasing tree canopy cover is <br />important throughout the city with a specific priority for deficient areas. <br />Hazard resilient design <br />Many of the landforms in Everett pose risks to public safety, life, and property, if developed or allowed <br />to be improperly developed. Lands susceptible to erosion hazard, landslide hazard, and seismic hazard <br />are designated geologically hazardous areas. The primary geological elements and hazards of concern in <br />Everett are landslide hazards, erosion hazards, and soil liquefaction. Development in areas potentially <br />hazardous to life and property, such as floodplains and landslide hazard areas can create liability upon <br />the taxpayers, public services, and financial resources of the City. <br />Development adjacent to heavily wooded areas are wildland urban interface zones and may be at risk <br />for wildfires with the drier, warmer, and longer summers. The streets and developments with only a <br />single access are designated neighborhood residential constrained to limit the number of homes being <br />exposed to potential risk, until a second access can be provided. <br />Caring for the natural environment <br />One of the significant impacts of urbanization is habitat fragmentation, which results in decreasing <br />biodiversity. Innovative land use development tools which concentrate and cluster development on the <br />areas of a site away from critical areas and their buffers can help maintain existing critical areas and <br />connections between these areas and reduce continued fragmentation of natural systems. Low impact