Ordinance 3129-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Introduction 1 INTRODUCTION The Marshland Subarea Plan is intended to create a conceptual plan for future restoration, land use, and infrastructure opportunities in the City of Everett's eastern limits. Specifically, the plan identifies lands within the approximately 1,065-acre area' adjacent to the Snohomish River project area that are suitable for agriculture, habitat restoration, and passive recreation as well as some additional residential development. The Subarea Plan is the basis for revisions to the City of Everett (City) Comprehensive Plan and Shoreline Master Program (SMP) for the portions of the subarea that are within the City's urban growth area. The Marshland subarea is an important area within the City as it is the largest vestige of open space within the City limits and the City's Municipal Urban Growth Area (MUGA), has significant fish and wildlife restoration potential, provides opportunities for passive recreation, has a large percentage of publically owned lands, and has existing valuable agricultural use. The Marshland's location is ideal for tidally-influenced wetland restoration and represents one of the last opportunities for large scale restoration of this type within the Snohomish River basin. Restoration actions within the subarea can also be blended with passive recreation, including open space areas and trails, to provide the public with opportunities to view and enjoy restored areas. Agricultural uses will continue outside of restoration areas, including commercial agriculture, small scale hobby farming, and personal livestock husbandry. 1.1 Overview of the Subarea Plan The Marshland Subarea Plan is the result of a SMP settlement agreement between the City, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), Washington Environmental Council, and Everett Shoreline Coalition; a grant from Ecology; creation of an stakeholder group and scheduling of associated stakeholder meetings; development of a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to review and assess environmental issues related to the project; and public input on the EIS and at public meetings and hearings. The subarea plan provides for a combination of restoration, recreation, agricultural, and residential uses within the subarea. ' The area studied in the Marshland EIS included approximately 1,065 acres;however, only 846 acres of the area studies in the EIS occur within the City's municipal limits and its associated Urban Growth Area(MUGA). Draft Subarea Plan June 2009 Everett Marshland 1 070346-01