The new rates are aimed at encouraging development projects to move forward in today’s tight financing markets. Because of current financing constraints, projects have had more difficulty getting built. The lower impact fees provide more financing options for quality projects.

Transportation impact fees on development per vehicle trip are now $714 per citywide, with an additional $140 per vehicle trip in the Town Center. Previously, the rate per trip was $1,071 citywide, with an additional $210 in the Town Center.

Park impact fees on development are revised to $1,351 per residential unit. Previously, the rate was $2,027 per unit.

The City hopes that this will help the city’s Town Center Plan be achieved. The Town Center Plan calls for walker-friendly commercial and mixed use development close to the new Transit Center.

The lower impact fee rates will be in effect for three years, while economic conditions are recovering. The City Council will be considering another economic development incentive, a property tax abatement program for the Town Center and two other areas, on September 19, 2011.

Thanks to David Carlos for sending in these photos.

Economic vitality helps our community move forward and provides the jobs, services, businesses, parks, schools, and other things people need. Fortunately, Mountlake Terrace is weathering the current national recession and poised to do even better.

Development, consistent with community standards, is being planned in the Town Center and other locations. A recent count showed 39 significant projects planned for Mountlake Terrace. These are mostly private projects on private property, where the owners recognize the great potential in this city.

Over 6,500 jobs are already located in Mountlake Terrace. These jobs provide incomes to families. They give us places to shop, eat, and take care of commercial needs near home. They also help make our community a better place because businesses and employment help pay for public services — including police, libraries, transit, recreation, and schools — and infrastructure — such as streets, sidewalks, parks, and the city water system. Without healthy businesses in our community, Mountlake Terrace residents would either have to pay higher taxes or lose some of their quality of life.

As the national and regional economy recovers, Mountlake Terrace is likely to see economic growth and change that will enhance our community. The City Council has taken a proactive approach by adopting plans and strategies to encourage economic vitality and quality of life. To view key plans, see the city’s website (www.cityofmlt.com) and click “City Services,” “Long-Range Planning,” and then “Plans and Publications.”

Key business sectors for our community are medical/healthcare, clean technology, and neighborhood retail/restaurants. An example of medical/healthcare opportunities is future growth associated with Swedish/Edmonds Hospital. While the hos- pital is just outside our city limits, other medical and healthcare facilities will need space nearby, especially in Mountlake Terrace.

In other ways, our location is a big advantage too. We are close to major employment centers, such as downtown Seattle, the University of Washington, and Boeing. We are served by major state highways, such as I-5, and are not far from an international airport (SeaTac). Transit service is improving here too — with express bus service now available from the Freeway Station on I-5, near 236th Street.

As the regional economy gains momentum over the next few years, Mountlake Terrace’s jobs and prosperity will increase too, helping to ensure good places and good services for all residents.

Brook Glenn is located just south of Creekside Village on Cedar Way.

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The time set aside for public comment before the Council’s vote lasted for about an hour and nearly all of the 27 testimonies given were in opposition of the proposed zoning change. Tensions were high as most of the testimonies were from homeowners and residents in the neighborhood who feared the zoning change would have a number of negative impacts to their neighborhood and property taxes. Over a dozen letters and emails were also filed with the City in opposition of the zoning change.

Many people spoke about the fact that they moved in to the Melody Hill neighborhood because it was safe place to raise their families. Several long-time homeowners said that the increased development along the 220th corridor in recent years has significantly increased the traffic in the neighborhood and assumed that a zoning change from residential to commercial would further increase traffic.

Councilmember Kyoko Matsumoto noted that any future development would have to meet the community’s new design standards. “This could include requiring commercial access only from 64th,” she said.

Not everyone present was opposed to all development in the neighborhood. Several residents said that they wouldn’t mind development but they don’t want to see more of the typical strip malls that are present along the 220th corridor. “Destroying our peaceful community with another unnecessary strip mall would not only decrease our property values, but diminish our quality of life,” wrote an owner of a neighboring property.

Property taxes were another concern that was brought up several times during the public testimony. An owner of one of the 19 single family properties wrote in saying that the Snohomish County Assessor’s Commercial Department said if the value of a property increases, the property taxes will increase. Community Development Director Shane Hope confirmed that the rezone in and of itself would not increase the taxes on the properties to be rezoned or neighboring properties. Wade Heyer, a real estate agent who has sold many of the Town Center properties to be developed, also added that property taxes have not increased for Town Center properties that were rezoned commercial.

There also seemed to be several rumors or mis-information as one neighbor testifying thought she heard that a developer wanted to build a hotel on the site and another thought that eminent domain may be used to force the property owners to sell for transit uses. Councilmember Doug McCardle emphasized that the rezone doesn’t force anyone to sell their property. “A rezone allows for future or potential change if a property owner so desires,” said Councilmember Doug McCardle. “However, the existing uses can stay the same as now if that’s what the property owner wants.”

The Council voted 6-1 to change the classification of the area from residential to commercial. Councilmember John Zambrano was the only member who voted against the rezone.

If you live near the area, were you for or against the rezone? Let us know in the comments.

The measure would provide a new civic campus on the old civic center site with a new community/senior center, public meeting places, new police station, emergency operations center, city offices, library facility upgrades and new streetscapes.

Election results will be updated again on Wednesday, November 3 at 7 pm.

The Freeway/Tourist district is just east of I-5 between 236th and 244th. It includes the Gateway Place commercial area.

Under the previous code, building heights were unlimited in this district. The new code restricts heights based on building locations—calling for maximums of 3 stories in one area of the district, 4-6 stories in other areas, 20 stories in one area next to I-5, and 12 stories in another area next to I-5. Until a Transfer of Development Rights program or similar program is adopted, the interim height limits are even less—3 to 4 stories in the entire district.

The new code also requires a tree buffer to preserve the existing wooded areas where the Freeway/Tourist district and a single-family zone come together. As development occurs in all areas of the district, open space must now be provided. Design standards must be followed too.