Snoqualmie changes zoning in historic downtown

Published 10:11 am Thursday, February 25, 2016

In accordance with the 2014 comprehensive plan, the city of Snoqualmie will change the land use and zoning of two areas in historic downtown Snoqualmie, from Doone Ave S.E. to Silva Avenue S.E. and from S.E. Newton Street to S.E. Delta Street.

The two parcels are now zoned as a mix of business, retail, and residential. They will be rezoned to a Form-Based Mixed-Use zone, to allow the city to control development style and land use to promote the historic feel of downtown and comply with flooding regulations.

Nicole Sanders, associate planner for the city of Snoqualmie, presented these planned changes at a downtown Snoqualmie merchants meeting on Feb. 3, to get feedback from the business owners. She explained that with the new zoning the city could focus development to fit in with the current feel of the businesses downtown.

“We were looking at both of these areas because they are adjacent to the downtown, and downtown retail thrives a lot on its historic aesthetic, so we wanted to make sure that changes moving forward wouldn’t be historic themselves but would fit the historic feel … not put something really ultra-modern next to the retail that thrives on that historic quality,” Sanders said.

Another reason for the change is to coincide with Federal Emergency Management Agency regulations against building homes in existing floodways. Sanders explained that while new housing couldn’t be built there, existing homes would not be affected by the change.

“If you have an existing home and you didn’t change the footprint of the home, you wouldn’t be forced to switch over use so long as you stay within your original footprint,” she said. “It affects people that make significant changes to their lots or do something new but a lot of people that live there now won’t be asked to do anything differently.”

The third reason for the change was the current codes were not clear in regard to second-floor residential development, which some retail locations already have. The new zoning would support that use.

Sanders said the feedback she received from the merchants, who would be affected by these changes to adjacent parcels, was positive.

“The planning commission wanted us to restrict building materials more and look at more historic materials such as wood, stone and metal. They generally agreed with the direction the ordinance was going … saying ‘Yes, we think the historic look benefits us. We want adjacent parcels to have supporting aesthetics,” she said.

The goal for the city is to complete the zoning changes by June. An environmental review still needs to be done, to be sure the new code implements the intent of the comprehensive plan.

“After that it goes back to planning commission for a hearing to decide if they recommend it to council and then council would make the decision,” Sanders said.

Sanders encourages people who have questions or concerns to contact city staff to share their feedback. The city website is http://www.ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.