I had a woman contact me the other day wondering what changes were taking place towards the Mountlake Terrace Downtown Revitalization. Since the city hasn't updated their website in awhile, I contacted Shane Hope, the Community and Economic Development Director for the city of MLT. He was very helpful and passed along the following list to show the efforts and progress towards the revitalization:
--New downtown regulations (at http://www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us/forBusinesses/pdf/BCD_Amend_ORD_08.04.08_Fnl.pdf ) and design standards (at http://www.ci.mountlake-terrace.wa.us/forBusinesses/pdf/DesignStandards_TC_August2008_Fnl.pdf ) implement the adopted Town Center Plan.
--The Town Center Environmental Impact Statement was issued last year.
--A Town Center Planned Action Ordinance to streamline the SEPA process for downtown projects was adopted last year.
--New parking standards (with stall dimensions + options for shared parking) have been adopted.
--The City has incorporated $3 million into its capital plan to develop a downtown public plaza.
--Mountlake Terrace has adopted a "Sustainability Strategy" encouraging green building and other practices.
--A new five-level park-and-ride garage (1/4 mile from downtown, adjacent to I-5 and 236th)) is under construction.
--Construction of a Sounds Transit "Freeway Station" (an express bus station that will be in the median of I-5 and connect via a pedestrian bridge to the adjacent park-and-ride garage) will start in early 2009 and be completed in 2010.
--A new citywide Economic Vitality Strategy is expected to be ready for public review by October 10.
--The City Council has appointed a taskforce to provide recommendations by the end of the year on what to do regarding the need for new civic facilities, including a community center that could be located downtown.
--Our "development services" (permitting) program has been revamped to be even more efficient.
The city is always glad to share information or respond to questions about downtown revitalization in Mountlake Terrace. Shane Hope can be reached at 425.744.6281. An associate planner, Paula Schwartz at 425.744.6280, can provide day-to-day information about permits or arrange to provide copies of plot plans for any parcel; she also can schedule pre-application meetings.
Comments(0)