Everett The Mukilteo City Council approved a rezoning on Monday that opens the door for potential commercial development on a 1.2-acre waterfront parcel.
The council formally updated the city’s comprehensive plan, shifting the designated use of the site, referred to as Lot 5, from open space to Waterfront Mixed Use. This adjustment follows a March initiative by the council to prepare the property for future development as Mukilteo solicits developer proposals for a long-term lease.
Under the new zoning classification, the site could accommodate retail stores, eateries, cafes, and other service-oriented businesses. City officials stressed, however, that no final decision has been made regarding the site’s ultimate function.
“Rezoning doesn’t commit us to a specific outcome,” said Andrew Galuska, Mukilteo’s planning director. “It simply broadens the range of options we can explore moving forward.”
The city is currently reviewing interest from developers, and the council retains discretion to pursue a park development or another alternative at a later stage.
The waterfront revitalization effort has been a joint pursuit between Mukilteo and the Port of Everett, spanning more than ten years. Much of the area was once occupied by an oil and fuel storage complex, which was shut down and handed over to the Port in 2013. The city received a portion of the land two years later.
Lot 5 sits between the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal to the east and Lighthouse Park to the west. A planned 20-foot-wide beachfront promenade is set to be constructed on adjacent land closer to the shoreline and will not be impacted by this week’s rezoning decision.
Public response to the proposal was mixed. Some residents advocated preserving the parcel as open green space, noting its current use as a modest park with scattered benches and gravel-covered ground, though it lacks direct beach access. A 2016 city plan had also listed the site as part of a broader vision for waterfront parks.
Others supported the shift toward commercial use, arguing it would increase foot traffic, enhance vibrancy, and generate economic activity.
The final vote was 6 to 1, with Councilmember Bob Champion dissenting. He pointed to ongoing community feedback, including emails urging the council to maintain the status quo.
“The pace at which government operates can be deliberate,” Champion remarked. “I felt this was a step ahead of what many residents expected.”
Councilmember Don Doran, who backed the change, said the updated zoning unlocks new possibilities for the site’s long-term contribution to the community.
We can shape this property to match the community’s vision, whether that means a business hub or green space, Doran noted.