2005/04/20 Council Agenda Packet

f11 yyam-- r�...�rr --, = - = __ V' ASSOCIATION I- kOM HLWII I IO NINE IEF.NIH 13E1-Wl-EN BROADWAY AND IHE BAY f-' t_ ' If January 9, 2005 (< K ti f ;� f'nn- TO: CITY OF EVERETT PLANNING COMMISSION '� ' FR: The Bayside Neighborhood 1' :'f "'`_' F!c.'I!li %)e;;,t. RE: Application and Proposed DNS SEPA#05-002 Height Regulation Amendments to the Everett Municipal Code, dated January 25, 2005 to rezone and change height on Rucker Avenue from Everett Avenue to Pacific Avenue Dear Commissioners: The Bayside Neighborhood appreciates the opportunity to comment this radically premature proposal. While we recognize the need for increased density in the downtown core, it is our feeling that this is a piecemeal approach and is spreading "tall not sprawl" into existing lower density portions of the adjacent neighborhoods. Kindly consider the following when making your decision regarding increasing the height from 80 feet to 150 feet on the east side of Rucker Avenue. On September 8, 2004 The City sponsored a developers' forum to solicit input from the local and regional development community. MAKERS, the architectural and design firm summarized the event and made the following observations and recommendations regarding height in Everett: The market cannot handle high-rise now; economics too questionable and there is no margin for error; In Tacoma height was down zoned from 200 feet to 100 feet to stimulate development out of a speculative blight situation; in Tacoma height was down zoned from 200 feet to 100 feet to stimulate development from a speculative blight situation; no tower (for now); 5 over 1 is better. No design standards exist in the Everett zoning code that will assure safe inviting streets for people. It takes a lot more than high density to make residents feel at home, it takes good design for a safe, healthy, vibrant downtown, and we desperately need amenities such as open space and access to the water front. We have to consider the parking demands for a 15 story tower allowed in this zoning. The first four floors could be taken up entirely with parking! Then the question remains, is there enough demand for retail/office space to provide interesting street level activities that would make for a pedestrian friendly street? Remember at the Library site there would be 700 — 800 linear feet of sidewalk frontage. Now, you, as social engineers, are being asked to grant high density zoning to four blocks of Rucker Avenue and not even for a specific owner or a specific project. Because, we lack the safeguards necessary for quality residential projects, we would have to rely on the sensitivity of many unknown future owners/developers/architects that Elle Ray, Chair 2130 Grand Avenue Everett, WA 98201