2005/12/05 Council Agenda Packet

January 31, 2005 To Whom It May Concern: CITY OF EVERE`17' Manning Dept, I am writing in opposition to the rezone of residential BLOCK 248 to R -2-I proposed by Providence Hospital in the Comprehensive Plan and Rezone Application, File number REZ 04-008. Everett has a duty to maintain low-cost housing in residential neighborhoods, to maumtain a quality of life in the residential neighborhoods that support its businesses and infrastructure, and to set precedent for supporting and maintaining the historical architecture and neighborhoods which draw homebuyers into the north Everett area. However, Everett's Comprehensive Plan also supports "continued development, expansion and operation of hospitals and clinics within those residentially zoned areas currently designated for hospitals, clinics, and medical related uses on the Land Use Map'. The rezone of nearly ono -half of the Donovan District and the destruction of one of Everett's neighborhoods prized by first-time homeowners and young families is a controversial one. Fortunately, there exists a win-win solution to supporting both Everett's history and simultaneously supporting the economical expansion of Providence's medical facilities. Everett Block 248 is a poor site for hospital expansion for reasons beyond the destruction of the Donovan District The ensuing traffic from daily out-patient services, the additional road wear-and4m, the necessary road -widening and installation of traffic signals to assist in facilitating the additional traffic along 13d' and 14', and the cost to the city make the transformation of Block 248 from low -traffic residential to high -traffic R -2-I all bear further investigation. None of these concerns exist with the Hospital's "Rite-Aid" property on Broadway. In fact, that property which lies unused is a logical choice for an off-site out-patieat all -in -one cancer treatment center. Parking is easy and level to facilitate patient accessibility, a traffic signal already exists at the site, development of the site would remove an eye -sore from North Everett and facilitate the rehabilitation of the North Broadway area. Looking into the future, surrounding commercially -zoned properties will gradually transform to support eateries and retail which would appeal to the cancer center patients and family members and friends. There is plenty of space to support the cancer -center staff as well with parking. All of these changes are positive for Everett and economically feasible for the hospital, particularly when the following is takeuu into account The hospital has made an outstanding investment in real estate by purchasing the Donovan Homes, which were designated as historic in the early 1980's, prior to the hospital's fust purchase on Everett Block 248. Exhibit A illustrates the Hospital's gross equity in its holdings there of over two million dollars. Factoring in the 8% cost of selling residential real estate, it should cost the Hospital no more than $373,800 in excise tax, real estate fees, escrow and title fees to liquidate their investments. The resulting net of nearly two million dollars over one year's time taken to sell the properties one -by -one could then be used to off -set whatever real and estimated costs associated with moving medical equipment from existing cancer care fatalities to the new cancer care center on Broadway. In conclusion, the proposal to re -zone the Donovan District and the ultimate location of the cancer care center and supporting parking area should be re-evaluated in light of many factors, including this logical win-win solution Laura Gumnick ( v k -i 131 mbard Ave Everett, WA 98201 425-344-3449