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3 <br /> 7:32:11 PM <br /> Commissioner Jordison asked Mr. Giffen for clarification that all the development and density <br /> should occur in a very limited area whereas anything outside of that would be considered urban <br /> sprawl and that open space should be protected outside the City limits. Mr. Giffen responded <br /> that the regional council had taken a top down approach to assign the growth targets (which <br /> the PSRC refers to as "guidance"). The numbers that they came up with for Everett and other <br /> areas were not based on any scientific analysis of capacity or other public planning exercise. It <br /> was more of a strategy to concentrate growth in the regional centers. Commissioner Jordison <br /> commented that they seem to have ignored the fact that the saturation has already occurred in <br /> the unincorporated MUGA. <br /> 7:34:28 PM <br /> Commissioner Sand commented that this has always been a flawed process. Cities are <br /> expected to accommodate for a certain population growth that may never come; however, <br /> cities can't afford to put in the capital improvements to service that level of population so <br /> development standards and projects are constructed for a target population that never shows <br /> up. Mr. Giffen stated that the Mayor sent letters to PSRC regarding the population numbers <br /> and the cost of infrastructure to accommodate those population numbers during the Vision <br /> 2040 planning process. The concern was that until you have light rail in Everett and the market <br /> can respond by providing higher densities around light rail stations, it will be hard to attract the <br /> growth suggested by Vision 2040. At this time, the City does not know if Everett will get light <br /> rail beyond Lynnwood. <br /> 7:36:28 PM <br /> Mr. Giffen presented a chart of the annual growth rates in population and employment for the <br /> existing growth targets and the preliminary 2035 growth targets. The growth strategy has <br /> tripled the rate of projected population growth in the next 10 year period in the city limits. <br /> 2011-25 2025-35 <br /> City Population 1,425 4,157 <br /> MUGA Population 586 (277) <br /> Total 2,011 3,880 <br /> City Employment 2,614 1,509 <br /> MUGA Emp. 91 173 <br /> Total 2,705 1,682 <br /> Mr. Giffen presented a chart on the additional capacity above 2011 based on the adopted 2025 <br /> Comprehensive Plan. Under the City's current land use plan,the City can handle an additional <br /> 30,000 population. Mr. Koenig added that the numbers were based on the buildable lands <br /> analysis that was just completed with the County. There is a huge deficit in capacity under <br /> existing land use plans and the changes the City would have to make to accommodate that level <br /> of population. The employment numbers are not as daunting for the City. <br /> 14 <br />