2012/04/11 Council Agenda Packet

Evergreen Way Revitalization Plan 7 Quality Travelling north into Everett from unincorporated Snohomish County, it is apparent that the quality of development is substantially higher, with better landscaping and site development. It is equally clear that this difference in quality translates into property values and identity and business viability. With this in mind, the design guidelines and standards both within and outside nodes emphasize landscaping, building quality, sign quality and details that add visual interest. Identity While business "strips" are typically highly diverse in terms of individual properties, one strip is generally similar to another, resulting in a generic quality and a lack of individual identity. Public improvements, such as those recently constructed along Highway 99 in Shoreline or further south in Des Moines, can help define a stretch of corridor, but such improvements do not appear to be favored by existing businesses on Evergreen Way. A more practical approach is to subtly enhance the unique character of individual sections that already are somewhat unified by similar uses or conditions. For example, the cluster of auto dealerships between Everett Mall Way and 112th Street SW has established an expansive and contemporary character while the wetland enhancements and vegetation south of 112th Street SW provide a "greener" feel. Sections north of 75th Street SE, which were developed between 1950 and 2000 on smaller lots, feature a more human scale and greater architectural diversity. To a certain extent, design standards in the proposed new zoning can reinforce these characteristics so that the person travelling up and down the corridor experiences a variety of distinctive visual settings. The development and design standards for the proposed zoning will serve to incrementally improve the overall identity of Evergreen Way, as properties redevelop. Comprehensive City-sponsored improvements would be more effective in transforming the identity of the corridor if the City is able to secure funding for a substantial streetscape improvement project. Strategies for Individual Nodes The Plan background Report (Appendix 5) presents the land use and capital improvement recommendations for each of the nodes in the Evergreen Way Corridor project area. The City will use the detailed recommendations from the Background Report to identify capital improvement projects and urban design standards to be incorporated into the City's land use code. The rezones proposed to accompany the adoption of the Evergreen Way Revitalization Plan were influenced by this early input, but do not include all of the areas shown as potential rezone areas by the graphics and text of the background report. The City may consider additional rezoning in the future to the E-1 or MUO zones beyond what is shown in the background report, based upon property owner and community preferences. e 28