Ordinance 3454-15 with Exhibits A- C

EVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN • coordinating transportation and beautification improvements with WSDOT, Sound Transit, developers, existing businesses and neighborhoods to create more attractive gateway entry corridors into the city. • enforcement of property maintenance standards. • respond to employer needs related to expansion, locating in Everett, and education of employees. C. Balancing Environmental Quality and Economic Health The city is committed to the development of efficient and effective regulations which will both protect critical environmental resources and provide certainty and predictability for development. This has been demonstrated in the Southwest Everett Industrial area and Downtown Everett with the city environmental work the city did ahead of development. This is accomplished through the Planned Action process under State Law. A specific example is the expansion of the Boeing plant for the 777 X project. The expedited permit process was helpful in keeping the next generation of Boeing planes to be manufactured and assembled in Everett. Upon adoption of this comprehensive plan update, the city will evaluate and update its development regulations as necessary. These regulations are periodically reviewed to ensure that the plan is implemented and that our codes do not present an onerous burden to those projects that are consistent with the plan. D. Everett's Role in the Region Everett will continue to be home of many of the largest employers in Snohomish County (Boeing, Naval Station Everett, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, Snohomish County government, Everett Clinic, Snohomish County PUD, Everett Community College, school districts). Everett's large supply of industrial and re -developable commercial land provides opportunity for businesses to establish, relocate and grow. The Vision 2040 regional growth strategy designates Everett and one of 5 metropolitan cities in the region, and projects an additional 50,000 jobs in Everett by 2035, more than 37% of all job growth within the county during this time frame. The City's land use plan provides sufficient capacity for this growth, but the adopted targets for population and employment growth are lower than the guidance provided in Vision 2040. See growth targets discussion in the Introduction chapter of the comprehensive plan. E. Transportation Economic activity depends on transportation systems to travel to work; deliver raw materials; and move goods to markets. People and goods are moved by road, rail, water and air. In order for Everett to grow as Vision 2040 suggests, the Sound Transit light rail system must be extended from Lynnwood to Everett before the end of the planning horizon to keep people moving and to serve job centers in Everett. The decisions about the light rail alignment and station locations can either support or thwart Everett's ability to grow consistent with the region's expectations. An alignment along Interstate 5 that does not serve the southwest job center and other stations in Everett will not benefit Everett nearly as much as it benefits employers and job growth in communities located south of the city. In December, 2014, Sound ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT 6