Published April 2001

Snohomish City Council OKs economic growth plan

By Leslie Moriarty
Herald Writer

The Snohomish City Council recently approved a 156-page economic development plan for the city and its urban growth area.

The plan, which took more than a year of work, addresses how the city should grow physically and economically in five major geographical areas.

Drafting the plan came about after the city received a $29,500 grant from the U.S. Forest Service to help look at job possibilities for areas such as Snohomish that have been affected by a downturn in the forest and timber industry. The Snohomish Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Snohomish Business Association added $10,000 to the grant.

A nine-member economic development task force was formed, and Seattle consultant Tom Beckwith was hired to lead the work. Ultimately, the city was broken into five areas, and an economic plan for each area was drafted.

According to the document, a high priority will be the development of the Bickford corridor, including improvements in infrastructure there. Other priorities include development and design standards for Avenue D, which is home to grocery stores, drugstores, fast-food outlets and gasoline stations.

Also important is an after-hours education program for youths, development of a civic center plan for Maple Avenue, design and development standards that protect the historic buildings downtown and elsewhere, and development of a waterfront trail.

Much of the plan’s work was coordinated by Ann Caley, the city’s senior planner. She said the projections call for another 10,000 jobs to be needed in the Snohomish area by the year 2005.

Because of that, part of the focus of the plan is to bring jobs to Snohomish so residents can live and work locally, rather than clog highways commuting to work.

The plan is available at City Hall for viewing.

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