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Planning Commission Meeting <br /> March 8, 2005 <br /> Page 4 <br /> with the goal of attracting and retaining talented people. As a result, these communities not only <br /> have drawn highly skilled people but exceptional businesses that have improved the social, <br /> cultural, and economic environment. In the competition for talent, Everett has some catching up <br /> to do. The lack of high quality housing options including new apartments and condos in <br /> downtown is a big part of why Everett has fallen behind. The challenge of assembling land <br /> downtown makes it especially important to maximize the use of existing sites where higher <br /> densities are appropriate. Lot sizes are very small and are held by many different owners. If <br /> the City intends to follow through on the momentum that has been generated by the Everett <br /> Events Center and other public investments, the City needs to take advantage of opportunities <br /> for higher density housing along Rucker Avenue between Everett and Pacific Avenues. The <br /> additional height is important for condo development since buyers will want views to offset the <br /> perceived risk of placing their largest investment, their home, in a new and untested real estate <br /> market. He stated that there were other important benefits to consider in making a decision. <br /> Creating more housing downtown is an important part of smart growth. It takes development <br /> pressure away from neighborhoods and encourages people to walk instead of using their cars. <br /> Another benefit is promoting retail development with more restaurants, shops, and <br /> entertainment options which improves the quality of life. New apartments and condos will also <br /> expand the supply of housing and make it more affordable to working families. With respect to <br /> their properties, the proposed changes would facilitate planning efforts by eliminating different <br /> zoning and height boundaries that divide the parcels. In their view, the impacts to properties in <br /> and around the proposed area would not be significant since the 150 foot height limit already <br /> exists on Hoyt Avenue and portions of Rucker Avenue along Hewitt. For all these reasons, he <br /> hopes that Planning Commission will support the proposed changes on Rucker Avenue and <br /> allow the revitalization of downtown Everett to continue. <br /> Valerie Steel, 2521 Grand Avenue, stated that she felt that the City should be looking at the <br /> entire area west of downtown to the waterfront and considered it part of Everett's <br /> redevelopment strategy. She submitted a March 8th letter written by her and resubmitted <br /> previous letters written by her and the Bayside Neighborhood as compelling reasons why <br /> Planning Commission should table the request for the rezone and asked that Commission <br /> consider the points from her submitted letter. She read the March 8th letter to Commission. She <br /> felt that the rezone should have been a part of the docketing process since she felt that it was a <br /> comprehensive plan amendment. She commented that she was aware of the issue with <br /> condominiums and builders' insurance and felt that there was a need for homeownership and <br /> not transient populations in the downtown area. She felt that transient populations typically vote <br /> less and volunteer less, erode the workforce by not providing homes that will anchor people to <br /> the community, and places additional burden on police and emergency services. <br /> She urged commission to deny the application and encouraged the City to partner with the <br /> Master Builders Association, the Washington Association of Realtors and environmental groups <br /> like FutureWise and Pilchuck Audubon's Smart Growth to pass statewide legislation that will <br /> allow the community to build a City in which people are vested. <br /> Mr. Giffen stated that this was not a comprehensive plan docket item and was not something <br /> that was required to be in a comprehensive plan docket cycle as it is considered an <br /> implementation of existing comprehensive plan designations and policies. <br /> Mike Palmer, representing the owners of Cascade Crags at 2820 Rucker Avenue, had concerns <br /> about the fairness of the spot rezone. The original request was to increase the height on the <br /> east side of Rucker to 150 feet and limit the west side of Rucker to 80 feet. He supported the <br />