2010/06/09 Council Agenda Packet

ORDINANCE NO. An Ordinance allowing unlisted uses in basement and other areas in the B-3 Zone, amending Zoning Code Ordinance No. 1671-89, as amended by Ordinance No. 2923-06 (EMC Chapter 19.22). WHEREAS, the City of Everett Zoning Code contains regulations for the B-3 Zone (Central Business District); and WHEREAS, it is necessary from time to time to update zoning regulations to provide clarification or create additional standards related to specific uses; and WHEREAS, the existing B-3 zone specifies the uses that are permitted in downtown, consistent with the Downtown Plan adopted in 2006; and WHEREAS, when the City adopted the Downtown Plan in 2006, it concurrently adopted new development regulations for the B-3 zone and expanded the limits of the B-3 zone by rezoning several blocks from other commercial zoning classifications to B-3; and WHEREAS,there are many older buildings in the B-3 zone that contain spaces in basements or other portions of buildings that do not easily lend themselves to some of the permitted uses specifically listed in the B-3 zone; and WHEREAS, adding a review process to the B-3 zone to provide for consideration of uses not specifically listed in the zoning code through a site-specific public review process using evaluation criteria to ensure that the proposed use will not have unreasonable impacts on the surrounding properties or the Central Business District as a whole will provide the opportunity for existing underutilized building space to be put into productive use; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public workshop on March 16, 2010 to discuss and consider potential amendments to the Zoning Code related to re-use of existing building spaces; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 4, 2010 to consider public testimony and make a recommendation concerning zoning regulations for re-use of existing building spaces; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed amendment to the B-3 zone will: • create the potential for more business activity in the City • encourage the re-use of existing buildings • result in improvements to existing buildings 8