Published October 2001

Urban centers address quality of life, economy

Every workday, 95,000 Snohomish County residents leave their homes for their jobs in King County. Before arriving or returning home, they’ll almost certainly encounter what we have come to know as gridlock.

It doesn’t have to be this way. In August, the Snohomish County Council took an important first step to providing a solution by unanimously approving the Urban Centers Demonstration Program. The legislation will guide future development in selected unincorporated areas of the county near Everett, Lynnwood, Mill Creek and Bothell.

Urban centers are innovative, well-designed developments that provide a mix of residential and commercial uses that encourage pedestrian connections to transit. Think of them as “mini downtowns,” a collection of mid-rise office and residential buildings, store fronts and parks all placed within walking distance of a transit station, park-and-ride and, eventually, a light rail station.

The concept is an outgrowth of forward thinking on the part of developers, government planners and environmental groups that traditionally have often been on opposing sides when considering how the county should develop.

The urban centers concept moved a step closer to reality when Opus Northwest, a national development firm with local offices in Bellevue, agreed to revise its plan for the multiphase Northpointe Corporate Campus Project at I-5 and 164th Street. Instead of following the traditional low-rise suburban-style office park surrounded by a sprawling parking lot approach, Opus agreed to “build up rather than out.” But to efficiently complete their plans they would need some regulatory relief from county government.

Opus executives were responding to concerns from a coalition of environmental and citizen activists who were concerned Opus’ original plan would endanger environmentally sensitive areas near the headwaters of Swamp Creek. Together, Opus and the concerned citizens approached county planners and asked them to draft the urban-centers legislation.

The new urban-centers ordinance will allow the county’s planning director the authority to modify some development regulations, such as building height restrictions, that otherwise might block urban-center development. It has won universal praise.

“Here is an opportunity for the development community to build well-designed, quality projects that are sensitive to the needs of our residents and businesses while (providing) a way to reduce traffic congestion,” said County Council Chairman Dave Somers.

The Snohomish County Economic Development Council endorses development of urban centers. These centers form the core of the quality development integral to attracting employers that offer the quality “living wage” jobs for our residents, which will help stem the commuter flow to the south.

To continue the effort, planner Steve Clagett has joined the EDC staff as our Urban Centers Project Director.

Deborah Knutson is President of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. She can be reached at 425-743-4567 or by e-mail to dknutson@snoedc.org.

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