Ordinance 2852-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

WHEREAS,the proposed map amendment was reviewed in the Draft and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the 10-Year Update to the Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS,Planning staff held an open house for property owners and the Planning Commission conducted public meetings and hearings to review the comprehensive plan map recommendations and to take additional public testimony; and WHEREAS,the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments and that staff work with the private property owners to create a new Riverfront Commercial Zone; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan map designations are consistent with the criteria for amendments to the Land Use map, as follows: 1. The proposed land use designation must be supported by or consistent with the existing policies of the various elements of the comprehensive plan. The SMP shoreline environment designations and vision statements were also adopted as amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and zoning code. The proposed Waterfront Commercial designation is consistent with the SMP. 2. Circumstances related to the subject property and the area in which it is located have changed sufficiently since the adoption of the Land Use Element to justify a change to the land use designation. The update to the SMP in 2002 followed an extensive public participation process which resulted in land use inventories, vision statements and designations for the Riverfront area, and public access goals and standards that are not entirely consistent with the current Comprehensive Plan designation. The Waterfront Commercial designation, provides for water-oriented districts that create or reinforce a distinct character associated with the shoreline location, and that combine commercial activities with recreational activities or promote a high level of public contact with Everett's shorelines. This designation is consistent with the SMP. 3. New information is available which was not considered at the time the Land Use Element was adopted, that justifies a change to the land use designation. The new information generated during the update to the SMP and development of the Shoreline Public Access Plan, as well as the City's recent actions in planning for redevelopment and providing access to the Simpson site, landfill and other properties was not available in 1994 when the Land Use Element was adopted. The proposed designation will also provide for development of housing in the area, which will help the City accommodate the 2025 population growth targets in the 10-Year Comprehensive Plan Update. 2