SNOHOMISH — The Midtown Planning District Task Force is nearing the end of its work with its next meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The task force is looking at a far-reaching look at the Avenue D corridor.
The Task Force will also begin discussing what their final recommendations will be to give to the city Planning Commission.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting by clicking on this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83641563570 and then entering the meeting’s Passcode, which is 034847.
To listen in on your telephone you can call 253-215-8782 and when prompted enter the meeting ID number of 836 4156 3570 and passcode of 034847.
The Avenue D former county public works yard makes up largest single piece of Midtown. It is still undergoing environmental cleanup, county public works spokesman Matt Phelps said a couple weeks ago.
On Midtown, if you have any questions or comments please contact Planning Director Glen Pickus via email or by calling him at 360-282-3173. Comments on the project are encouraged. They may be submitted by email or regular mail (Snohomish City Hall, Attn: Glen Pickus, P.O. Box 1589, Snohomish, WA 98291). All comments will be forwarded to Task Force members.
Here is the Tribune's report from the third Midtown meeting from the Jan. 27 Tribune:
SNOHOMISH — Plans to beautify and reshape the Avenue D corridor from Sixth Street to just past the roundabout at 15th Street are getting sorted out, and the city is looking for public input.
There’s still time for people to vote on 19 questions on six topics such as just how tall future buildings should be permitted and how parking lots should be placed.
To give your thoughts, visit the city’s “self-guided open house” at www.arcg.is/1fuKab0 or write to planning director Glen Pickus at pickus@snohomishwa.gov or by mail to City of Snohomish, Attn: Glen Pickus, P.O. Box 1589, Snohomish, WA 98291-1589.
Comments are being taken until the end of January, Pickus said.
The questions inquire on items that a volunteer committee is considering, such as whether to allow intense development in the area, whether to allow buildings up to 55 feet tall in the area from 10th Street to 15th Street, and what the public thinks should be prohibited from being built along Avenue D in the future, such as disallowing new mobile home parks or places of worship. Fifty-five feet is about four stories tall.
One question, for example, is whether the area should allow “corporate identity” architecture in the future, where a building’s appearance is clearly identifiable to a chain restaurant even after the tenant leaves. A couple of examples along Avenue D are how the McDonald’s and the Jack in the Box look. (The task force wants to place restrictions on this.)
City officials convened the Midtown Task Force in response to the large former County Public Works Yard, at 13th and Avenue D, being ready for sale. It might go on the market this spring, Pickus said.
The task force is making final decisions at its Feb. 9 meeting to submit to the city’s Planning Commission for further deliberation. The City Council will take a swing at the Midtown regulations this summer.
The city will publish a link to access the Feb. 9 Midtown Task Force meeting at its webpage: www.snohomishwa.gov/706/Midtown-District
