Because of Metro Everett and proposed ReThink Zoning development standards, changes will happen in the alleys closely behind historic homes. or across narrow streets. A "buffer zone" should be created with lower heights, lower densities and greater setbacks, to create a workable transition between the largely single-family use neighborhood and the now-allowed and proposed increased height, unlimited density developments.
NORTON GRAND REZONE
There was a planned rezone for Norton and Grand north of 35th Street, taking us from Multi-Family R-3 to Single Family, UR-2 zoning that would still allow multi-family development, but in a smaller scale that would fit into our Historic neighborhood.
This desired change was arbitrarily eliminated from the ReThink plan with no notice to the neighborhood.
In addition, there is a proposed up-zone on the Southwest and Southeast corners of 33rd and Nassau, from R-3 to R-4.
Here is a presentation about Norton Grand heights, created by April and Stuart Coles: norton-grand_7-30-1pm_.pdf
Here are some modeling height studies from the Planning Department with current and proposed heights. The heights look less dramatic because the point-of-view is from above.
The currently-allowed building heights already have the potential to overshadow homes in the Norton Grand Overlay and they should be lowered. New development will create a "canyon" effect that impacts Historic homes dramatically. In some blocks in and surrounding the Norton Grand Overlay, the Planning Department is proposing increasing current heights.
NOTE: The light green roof (on the left) of an Historic Overlay home on Grand is overshadowed by the model of a Rucker development and a development on Grand and 32nd Street.
NOTE: On the east side of Grand Avenue (pictured at 32nd Street), the Planning Department proposes raising the heightof the modeled building to 4 floors, and at Pacific Avenue raising the heights to 5 to 8 stories and allowing unlimited density, live-work and micro-housing across the street from historic homes.
NOTE: The Planning Department is proposing the incentive height of the building to the right (on Pacific between Rucker and the east side of Grand) raised to 8 stories (85 feet) , not the 75 feet shown. Look at the effect on the Grand Avenue historic homes on the hill.
NOTE: The Planning Department is proposing allowing a height to 4 stories on Nassau Street and allowing unlimited density housing with commercial on the ground floor behind these Norton Avenue homes with no lot-line setback from the alley until the building reaches 50 feet.