Ordinance 2854-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

WHEREAS, the City initiated the 2004 annual comprehensive plan amendment process in July, 2004, which included the comprehensive review and amendment per RCW 36.70A.130(4) as well as Land Use Map amendments proposed by the City and private applicants; and WHEREAS, in September, 2004, the City held a developers forum as part of the Comprehensive Plan 10-Year update and the developers identified the East-Central Area, including the Everett Station Area as the best opportunity for higher density housing; and WHEREAS, the City's Economic Development staff asked that the 10-Year update consider provisions to allow housing in the entire station area in existing buildings in work/live units or in new construction implemented through a master-plan - planned development overlay process, which is a rezone process requiring public hearings; and WHEREAS,the proposed amendment was reviewed in the Draft and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the 2005/10-Year Update to the Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, Planning and Community Development staff held an open house for property owners and the Planning Commission conducted public hearings to review the Everett Station Area Plan with the proposed amendments and to take additional public testimony, and recommended approval of the Everett Station Area Plan and the regulations and design standards to implement the plan, with the amendments to allow residential use as described above; and WHEREAS,the intent of this ordinance is to make revisions to the Zoning Code and Map to implement the Everett Station Area Plan as recommended by Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed Zoning Code amendments and area-wide rezone are consistent with the criteria for revisions to the Zoning Code text and map, as follows: 1. The proposed amendments are consistent with the applicable provisions of the Everett general plan. The 1994 Comprehensive Plan provided for conceptual high capacity transit corridors and stations. The Map identified a conceptual Potential High Capacity Transit Station and Growth Center where the BNSF line crosses Pacific Avenue. Subsequently, additional studies resulted in the location and construction of Everett Station south of Pacific Avenue. The proposed Everett Station Area Plan was developed in response to Comprehensive Plan policies that recommend addressing land use and design around high capacity transit stations. Existing Comprehensive Plan policies that support the changes include: Land Use Element Policy 1.11.7 provides for high capacity transit stations, and states "Coincidental with the alignment of high capacity transit corridors and siting of stations, the City should evaluate land use designations to assure compatibility, and maximize benefits to the community in return on the public investment. 2