The Edmonds City Council at its Tuesday, Feb. 9 business meeting will revisit an ordiannce — discussed Feb. 2 — that would amend city code to add “hotel” as a permitted use in the commercial waterfront (CW) zone. The council will also receive a presentation regarding the Snohomish Health District and the annual audit from the Washington Cities Insurance Authority.
The business meeting begins at 7 p.m. and you can see the complete agenda here.
Prior to the business meeting, the council will meet in committees, starting at 4 p.m. Agendas for these meetings, which are work sessions with no public comment taken, are as follows:
Parks and Public Works Committee — 4 p.m.
– Review of an amendment to change the meeting dates for the Edmonds Youth Commission, to avoid conflicts with the city’s Diversity Commission meetings.
– Review of a Verdant Health Commission grant for the city’s LEAP (Learning Enhancement and Activities Program) daycamp for schoolchildren.
– Update on the Highway 99 Revitalization and Gateway Project and review of a consultant contract for $133,000 to pay for sign design as part of that project.
– Review of an interlocal agreement with City of Lynnwood for the 76th Ave Overlay Project.
document Council Agenda Item Printout
– Discussion of a zoning change for the former Public Works building now housing the Driftwood Players annex.
– Presentation of a pedestrian/utility easement along 80th Avenue West adjacent to 18227 80th Ave. W.
Public Safety, Planning and Personnel Committee — 5 p.m.
– Review of the social worker job description
– Compensation review for conflict counsel required when city’s current public defenders have a conflict of interest
– Proposed asset purchase for the Edmonds Solar Cooperative
– Proposal to close Fund 617, the Firemen’s Pension Fund
– Preliminary December 2020 quarterly financial report
– 2021 carryforward budget amendment
Meetings are held virtually using the Zoom meeting platform. To join, comment, view, or listen to the Edmonds City Council Meeting in its entirety, paste the following into a web browser using a computer or smart phone: https://zoom.us/j/95798484261. Or join by phone: US: +1 253 215 8782 Webinar ID: 957 9848 4261
Those wishing to provide audience comments during the business meeting using a computer or smart phone should raise a virtual hand to be recognized. Persons who want to comment by dial-up phone are instructed to press *9 to raise a hand. When prompted, press *6 to unmute.
In addition to Zoom, regular council meetings beginning at 7 p.m. are streamed live on the Council Meeting webpage, Comcast channel 21, and Ziply channel 39.
More hotels translates to more traffic and people.
Remember..this is chancy. But in a year…take a look again. I think we have plenty of other places and things to do first in Edmonds. Don’t commit yet.
$133,000 to contractor for sign design on Highway 99??? $133,000 WOW. That is a lot of money for signs and what does that gain the taxpayers?
Nothing. You are right. People who want inclusion and diversity don’t need or want fancy signs. We all here want some character in our neighborhoods…not signs. Art sure…after you do the walls ya hang the Art…not just the opposite. I think. Opinions?
One more hotel (there is only one in Edmonds other than those on 99) means tourism, jobs, tax dollars, and a boost for the local economy. If done right wll only add to the charm of the city.
Agreed Randy, I have noticed that we have pretty badly needed an additional hotel downtown as well. It would be great for our local businesses, restaurants, and would bring in more taxes for projects in our city. Ideally one with a nice space for weddings and small events.
I think that it would be great for the city. A good idea to at least leave the option open.
Let’s see. We are a town with a business base of good restaurants, fun pubs and bars, small specialty shops and sea side atmospherics. Yes, indeed, the last thing we want to see is any more traffic and people around here.
Perhaps there is already an interested party who would like to put a hotel on the seafront. Why else would this be on the agenda again. There is not much land available. However, there is a lot across the street from Arnie’s restaurant. It’s been used for overflow parking for employees of Arnie’s in the past. Don’t know who owns this lot, city or private company?
I think one hotel in Edmonds is plenty. It would be interesting to know what the occupancy rate is for the harbor square Best Western.
Actually, AirBNB that has been operating in the Waterfront area ( and other areas of the City) for years. It is largely untaxed, and will ( once the pandemic abates) continue forward. Perhaps Council should consider enforcing taxes on those units as well. There are many of them, all one has to do is look on the sight to see where they are. They also will compete with any hotel or motel in that area.
Mona, there was a study done a few years ago, and it was determined that we have the demand to support additional hotel(s). A fair amount of our available hotel business ends up in Lynnwood because of inadequate supply here. Due to building height restrictions and new view corridors associated with the Shoreline Master Plan, it is unlikely that new construction will be involved; an existing building that has more height “grandfathered” may pencil out. Repurposing an existing building won’t make the waterfront any less accessible to the public than it currently is as an office complex (already authorized, and how these taller buildings are currently used). There had been interest expressed in the past; It may or may not have come together even if hotel had been an allowable use, but since it was not, that was the end of the discussion. Since then, the idea has been vetted by our citizen Economic Development Council and the citizen Planning Board and recommended by both. There are (zero? almost zero?) beach front hotels in the Greater Seattle area. It could be very special. As an example, google The Lido House Hotel in Newport Beach. Come to Edmonds for a wedding at the Waterfront Center or a show at the ECA or attend the Arts Festival- and this amenity may be the reason that visit turns into a long weekend or a vacation stay. This isn’t really being brought up “again”- we typically have two or more weeks on the same subject when it is complicated. That one never made it to top of priority heap again as things related to Covid came into the picture after its introduction.
Thank you for all the information, Vivian! Greatly appreciated!
Director Hope and I have had conversations about this issue more than once. It seems like an equity issue to me. I do not see why we would be charging tax on hotel stays and not AirBNB (and others) and others doing the same thing. It takes more admin work but should happen (in my opinion too). Either that or we shouldn’t be charging tax on hotel stays!
I do support a waterfront motel if the conditions are the motel would replace an existing building and meet the height codes for the area. I believe it would benefit the businesses here in Edmonds and provide a positive experience to visitors.
However, I would like to see the city move slowly. Start with 1 and let it operate for at least a year before considering another motel. This would allow the city and citizens time to access the impacts, both positive and negative.
You are good Vivian. Enjoyed, both posts make perfect sense. All solutions for taxing both..excellent. Using existing building also perfect. Just solves all those view and tree problems instantly.
I love you. Common sense I adore. Thanks, Deb.
Hum, more noise, traffic and less use for the local public to use our Edmonds waterfront. I don’t think we need to become another Kirkland where everything becomes “private” and reduces access to the public unless you can afford it.
Kathleen see reply to Mona above for facts that address this
Kathleen – As/per Vivian’s email, if this is approved it would repurpose an existing building with a likely capacity no more than ~ 40 rooms, possible less. To address your traffic comment – right now, there are only three existing buildings that are reasonably possible to be part of this zoning change. All are commercial office buildings that have day commuters. So, “rush hour” is adversely impacted by the commutes into and from the office at standard business hours. Anyone that drives in the downtown area around 5:00 knows it can get fairly heavy in traffic, at least by Edmonds standards.
Any hotel would reverse the traffic to night and weekends and outside of the normal commuting hours. As the existing usable space is not changing, the number of vehicles traveling to the location would be likely be disbursed over the entire day. In fact, there are two factors that can provide a reasonable presumption that it’s not only possible but probable that we will see a reduction in traffic if a hotel is built. The location relative to the ferry and train will create opportunities for transit commuters that want to stay a weekend coming from the peninsula or cities to our north/south. Also, you are likely to have visitors that stay for 2 or more nights and “park and walk around.”
If this zoning change passes, I believe it has the opportunity to enrich the quality of life in Edmonds – from supporting our small business restaurants and stores, augmenting our new Waterfront Center’s night programing, and benefiting ECA and the Arts in our community.
Campaign contributions are public. When land developers became the top contributors, the handwriting was on the wall. We voted for this and we’re going to get it, with little detail.