A proposed Town Center Planned Action Update Ordinance (PAO) will be reviewed by the Mountlake Terrace City Council at its Thursday, May 2 work/study session; a public hearing and consideration of the ordinance is scheduled to follow at the City Council’s May 6 meeting. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. at the Mountlake Terrace Interim City Hall, 6100 219th St. S.W., Suite 220.

The updated Planned Action Ordinance would allow development in the Town Center district without further environmental review, provided such development is consistent with identified mitigation measures and all city development regulations. The city’s Planning Commission held an open house and public hearing on the Town Center PAO April 22 and recommended that the City Council adopt the ordinance.

Mountlake Terrace’s Town Center district is made up of most properties along 56th Avenue West from about 230th Street Southwest south to the county line, 236th Street Southwest between I-5 and about 56th Avenue West, and six properties along 244th Street Southwest.

A Town Center Plan was adopted by the Mountlake Terrace City Council in February 2007 to encourage revitalization of the district. The plan calls for the development of restaurants, retail stores, offices, coffee shops, and mixed uses, along with new community amenities, such as wider sidewalks, street trees and a large public plaza. General Town Center information is online here.

A public outreach process helped formulate the plan development, including six citywide mailings and 20 public events, such as community roundtables, design workshops, and hearings. The City also created a public website to host an Internet survey, announcements, comment forms, and dozens of informational materials.