MARYSVILLE – People who live on 83rd Street NE used to have a fairly peaceful existence.
Not anymore.
A few housing developments have sprung up the past few years, but things are really booming now with eight in the works that will add 415 houses.
This housing is needed because the city expects to grow by 20,000 people in the next 15 years. The city’s population is 67,820 and its comprehensive plan sets a target of 87,798 by 2035. As of 2015, Marysville had over 6,175 buildable acres to accommodate growth. With so many homes being built in the Whiskey Creek Ridge-east Sunnyside Boulevard area congestion is a major concern. Developers are being charged higher-than-normal traffic mitigation fees to pay for roundabouts on Soper Hill Road. Other improvements expected include new roads, frontage improvements where a project abuts a public street and right-of-way dedication for future road expansions. Impact fees charged but not used there will go toward other city road improvements.
Another large housing development is going in at the former Spook Woods area at 51st Avenue and 80th Street.
Prior to a project being approved, every development is required to ensure that impacted intersections or roadway corridors will comply with an acceptable level of service. For example, at Lakewood Station, a signal improvement at 172nd Street NE and 27th and construction of a roundabout at 23rd were required, along with other fixes.
The city also is growing in the commercial sector, most notably in the Cascade Industrial Center in the northern part of town. The planned 25,000 workers in the CIC will need places to live. Local mayors hope those jobs are filled by Marysville and Arlington residents to relieve people of two-hour commutes that tie up freeways and steal time away from families. Marysville has a lot more room for growth than Arlington does.
Other commercial development includes Reece Construction building off Smokey Point Boulevard and 156th Street and a senior housing facility is going in a few miles south of there.
Nearby, two hotels are going up at 116th Street, although one has been delayed due to a bankruptcy and other issues. Some early work is being done in the neighborhood of the new city hall coming soon near Comeford Park downtown.
On the Tulalip side of things, there is the new casino going up at Fourth Street, along with improvements on their waterfront at the marina, and a nearby gathering hall.
Road construction also is in full gear this summer. The First Street Bypass and State Avenue construction are underway or soon will be. The city will be constructing interim roadway improvements that include a road network from 156th Street NE to 51st Avenue NE to 160th Street NE. The city’s Smokey Point Master Plan also includes additional road connections that will complete the road network as development occurs. And, of course, improvements are going to be made on 172nd, new on- and off-ramps are coming at I-5 and Highway 529, and by 2025 the state is planning a full interchange at 156th and I-5.
Along with traffic, impact fees also are charged to housing developers for parks and Lakewood and Lake Stevens schools within Marysville, planning manager Chris Holland said.
•Park: single family, $1,510; multifamily $1,067.
•Traffic: residential $6,300, commercial $2,220.
•Schools: Lake Stevens, single family $7,235, duplex $3,512, multifamily two or more bedrooms $3,512. Lakewood single family $847, multifamily two or more bedrooms $2,022.
