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Everett City Zoning Code

19.29 Planned

Development Overlay

19.29.010 User guide.

This chapter establishes a mechanism for a property owner to propose a residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use development that is innovative or otherwise beneficial to the community but which does not strictly comply with the provisions of the zone in which the property is located. This mechanism is called a planned development overlay (“PDO”) and is intended to promote high quality developments which benefit the city more than would a development which complies with the specific requirements of this title, while allowing greater flexibility in the design of such developments. The criteria to be used in determining a proposed planned development’s quality are listed in EMC 19.29.050(C). (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.020 Review process.

All proposals for a PDO shall be reviewed using the review process as described in EMC Title 15, Local Project Review Procedures. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.030 Minimum lot area.

The minimum lot area required for property proposed for a PDO shall be:

A. MU zones—one acre;

B. LI zone—twenty acres;

C. HI zone—five acres;

D. Residential zones—one acre;

E. All other zones—two acres. (Ord. 4102-25 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2025; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.040 Modification of permitted uses.

A. Residential Use.

1. Residential use may not be allowed in industrial zones through the PDO process.

2. Up to four units of attached housing may be allowed in single-family zones.

3. Multifamily is allowed only as set forth in Chapter 19.05 EMC.

4. On-site recreational and community facilities are allowed in all residential zones.

B. Nonresidential Uses.

1. The planned development overlay may allow nonresidential uses which are not otherwise permitted in the underlying use zone only under one or more of the following circumstances:

a. The use shall be part of a planned development in which not more than twenty-five percent of the gross floor area of the development is devoted to a use which is not otherwise permitted in the underlying use zone.

b. The use shall be supportive of and/or complementary to the other uses within a planned development.

c. The use shall be compatible with the uses permitted in the surrounding area.

d. There is public benefit to be realized by allowing the proposed use.

2. Nonresidential uses may be located within the residentially zoned portion of a planned development when the proposed development includes residential use as an integral component of the planned development and when nonresidential uses are situated and developed in such a manner as to be compatible with any residential uses that are existing or which could be developed in the adjoining residentially zoned area. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.050 Modification of development standards.

A. The city, using the planned development overlay, may allow the following development standards to be modified:

1. Building setbacks;

2. Height of building or structure;

3. Required off-street parking spaces;

4. Landscaping requirements;

5. Sign requirements;

6. Standards specified in the special regulations or footnotes of the use tables (Chapter 19.05 EMC);

7. Lot size;

8. Lot width;

9. Design and development standards contained in this title;

10. Residential increase of up to fifteen percent greater than the density would be allowed pursuant to Chapter 19.06 EMC without the planned development overlay if:

a. The design quality of the development offsets the impact of the increase in density; and

b. The increase in density is compatible with existing uses in the immediate vicinity of the subject property.

B. Standards which may not be modified or altered are:

1. Shoreline regulations when the property is located in an area under the jurisdiction of the Everett shoreline master program;

2. Standards pertaining to development in critical areas or floodplains;

3. Regulations pertaining to nonconforming uses.

C. Basis for Approval of Alternative Development Standards. Approval of alternative development standards using the planned development overlay differs from the variance procedure described in Chapter 19.41 EMC in that rather than being based upon a hardship or unusual circumstance related to a specific property, the approval of alternative development standards proposed by a planned development shall be based upon the quality of the development plan and the criteria listed in this subsection. In evaluating a planned development which proposes to modify the development standards of the underlying use zone, the city shall consider and base its findings upon the ability of the proposal to satisfy the following criteria:

1. The quality of the proposed development and its compatibility with surrounding properties, especially related to:

a. Landscaping and buffering of buildings, parking, loading and storage areas;

b. Public safety;

c. Site access, on-site circulation and off-street parking;

d. Light and shadow impacts;

e. Number, size and location of signs;

f. Generation of nuisance irritants such as noise, smoke, dust, odor, glare, vibration or other undesirable impacts;

g. Architectural design of buildings and harmonious use of materials;

2. The unique characteristics of the subject property;

3. The unique characteristics of the proposed use(s);

4. The arrangement of buildings and open spaces as they relate to various uses within or adjacent to the planned development;

5. Visual impact of the planned development upon the surrounding area;

6. Public improvements proposed in connection with the planned development;

7. Preservation of unique natural features of the property;

8. The public benefit derived by allowing the proposed alteration of development standards. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.060 Planned development overlay approval.

A. Planning Commission Action.

1. A public hearing, pursuant to EMC Title 15, shall be conducted by the planning commission, which shall make its decision based upon all information provided in the application materials and/or presented at the public hearing.

2. The planning commission, after reviewing the evidence, shall take formal action in writing either approving the proposal as presented, approving subject to certain specific modifications, or disapproving it.

3. The action of the planning commission is a recommendation to the city council.

B. City Council Action.

1. A planned development overlay must be approved by the city council, following a public hearing.

2. After approval from city council, a planned development overlay may proceed to final development plan approval as set forth in EMC 19.29.080.

C. Zoning Map.

1. A planned development overlay approved by city council shall be noted on the official zoning map.

2. In the event that the final development plan is not submitted for approval as set forth in EMC 19.29.080, the planning director shall remove the planned development overlay from the official zoning map. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.080 Final development plan.

A. Procedure. The final development plan shall consist of elements presented for preliminary approval. The procedure involved in final approval shall consist of the following:

1. The final development plan shall be submitted to the planning department.

2. The planning staff shall review the final development plan to see that it is in substantial compliance with the previously approved preliminary development plan.

3. All schematic drawings presented in the preliminary development stage shall be presented in detailed form, i.e., landscaping, circulation, utilities, building location, etc.

4. If the final plan is in substantial compliance with the approved preliminary plan, it shall be approved by the planning director using the review process as described in EMC Title 15, Local Project Review Procedures.

B. Time Limit for Submission.

1. Within a period of three years following the approval of the preliminary development plan by city council or such other time frame established, the applicant shall file with the planning department a final development plan.

2. Extension. The planning director, for good cause, may extend for one year the period for filing of the final development plan.

C. Failure to Submit. If the applicant fails to apply for final approval for any reason within the time specified in subsection (B) of this section, the rezone shall become void. All future land uses or site development shall be subject to the requirements of the underlying use zone unless a new application for a planned development is submitted and approved. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.120 Final development plan—Amendments permitted.

A. Minor changes in the location, siting, height of buildings and structures may be authorized by the director without additional public hearings if these changes were required by engineering or other circumstances not known at the time the preliminary plan was approved. No changes authorized by this section may cause any of the following:

1. A change in the use, intensity or character of the development;

2. An increase in the overall ground coverage of structures of more than ten percent;

3. A reduction in approved open space, off-street parking, or loading zones; or

4. A reduction in the public benefit provided by the approved plan.

B. Changes in uses, rearrangements of lots, blocks, buildings, tracts, or changes in the provision of common open space and changes other than listed above shall be reviewed by the city council following a recommendation from the planning commission, following the same notification and public hearing process as required for the original approval. Such amendments may be made only if they are shown to be in the best long-term interests of the community. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.130 Mutual safeguards.

A. The city shall not impose additional Unified Development Code standards on a proposed planned development which has been given preliminary approval, even if code standards have been amended, provided a final development plan is submitted within the original three-year period or within the time period prescribed by the development agreement for final development plan submittal. If the applicant requests an extension of time, the city may impose additional standards on the preliminary planned development approval if such changes are based upon changes to the Unified Development Code or any other ordinances which have occurred since the original planned development approval was granted.

B. A plan submitted for final approval shall be deemed to be in substantial compliance with the plan given preliminary approval, provided any modification by the applicant does not:

1. Increase the residential density;

2. Reduce the area set aside for common open space;

3. Relocate the open space in a manner which makes it less accessible or usable to the public or the tenants of the development;

4. Reduce any of the landscape buffers in width or density of planting between the development and adjoining properties;

5. Change the point(s) of access to different streets;

6. Increase the total ground area covered by buildings or other impervious surfaces by more than ten percent;

7. Relocate buildings or impervious surfaces to areas designated as “critical areas”;

8. Fail to preserve trees or other unique natural features which were required to be preserved by the preliminary planned development approval. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

19.29.140 Conflict.

If there is a conflict between this chapter and any other chapter of this title, the requirements of this chapter shall control. (Ord. 3774-20 § 5(Q) (Exh. 3), 2020.)