Everett council adopts Everett 2044 housekeeping amendments, loosens owner-occupancy affordability and lowers fee-in-lieu

The Everett City Council voted Jan. 21 to adopt Council Bill 2512-91, a package of housekeeping clarifications to the Everett 2044 periodic update, including changes to the city’s inclusionary-zoning requirements.

Planning staff told the council the ordinance relaxes the affordability level for owner-occupancy housing so that 20% of units subject to inclusionary zoning must be affordable to households earning up to 100% of area median income (AMI), rather than 80% AMI. The staff presentation also said the fee-in-lieu for owner-occupied units would be reduced from $15 per square foot to $9 per square foot under the amendment package.

"This ordinance before you would relax that affordability level for owner occupancy housing to 20% of the units must be affordable to households making up to 100% of area median income," the planning staff summarized during the meeting. Staff also described two amendment sheets that add alternate ways to verify owner-occupancy and an inflation adjustment the planning commission had recommended.

Developers who spoke during public comment said the reduced fee would materially lower per-unit costs for for-sale products. John Maranti of Pacific Ridge Homes told the council the reduced fee in sheet 1 would “take that down to $16,000 per unit,” a reduction he said would improve feasibility for fee-simple townhomes and duplexes aimed at first-time buyers.

Council members debated tradeoffs for more than an hour. Vice President Ryan urged further study of one proposed change (referred to as 1a), arguing it should return to the planning commission to avoid unintended displacement. Other council members, including Council member Zarlingo, said they preferred to move forward with the staff-recommended sheet 1 to avoid delaying housing production.

Council member Bader moved and the council seconded adoption of the ordinance as amended with sheet 1. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; Council members Zilingo, Berbano, Tuohy, Weir, Bader, Vice President Ryan and President Schwab recorded yes, and the motion carried.

What’s next: Planning staff said they will work with the planning commission to vet remaining questions in amendment 1a and seek ways to limit displacement and better target owner-occupancy incentives. The ordinance covers 36 code sections adopted in the 2025 Everett 2044 update and includes both immediate housekeeping changes and items flagged for further review.

Votes at a glance: Council Bill 2512-91 (third and final reading, adopted as amended with sheet 1) — Passed (unanimous roll-call vote recorded).