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Everett · EVT-CP-2044 · Pages 23-56

Urban Form Element

The Urban Form Element establishes the city's overall development pattern including a system of mixed-use centers, corridors, employment areas, and residential neighborhoods guided by land use designations and zoning. It directs most growth to designated centers and transit corridors while protecting natural resources, critical areas, and tribal cultural resources. The element includes detailed land use designation tables, future land use maps, and 74 numbered policies covering land use strategy, residential neighborhoods, centers, corridors, street patterns, and natural area preservation.

Land Use Economy Environment Housing Governance

“Only 4 of 74 Urban Form Element policies (5%) include a concrete, measurable commitment.” Real Record SAY vs DO analysis · Everett Comprehensive Plan

About this analysis

Real Record applies the SAY vs DO accountability framework to every chapter of every Washington comprehensive plan we publish. Each policy in the chapter is read individually and scored into one of four buckets:

  • Measurable — the policy names a specific target, deadline, dollar amount, or action that can be verified later.
  • Strong — binding action language (“shall,” “will adopt,” “require”) without a measurable threshold.
  • Aspirational — encouraging or supportive language (“encourage,” “support,” “consider”) with no enforcement.
  • Monitor only — policies that commit to tracking or reporting but not to action.

The accountability score shown in the sidebar is the share of policies in the chapter that landed in the “Measurable” bucket. A score of 0–19 (red) indicates most policies use aspirational language without concrete accountability; 20–49 (orange) is mixed; 50 or higher (green) means the chapter is dominated by measurable commitments.

The underlying text comes from the official adopted comprehensive plan published by the Everett planning department. Scoring is performed by Real Record analysts using a structured rubric; the raw policy text and bucket assignments are archived in the Real Record civic data warehouse.

Read the full methodology, sources, and rubric at Real Record · About.

What the Plan Promises
Formal targets adopted in the Everett Comprehensive Plan.
36,500 new dwellings by 2044; 179,200 total population by 2044; Metro Everett capacity 13,000 dwelling units and 25,000 jobs by 2044
Goals (8 total)
  • UF-1: Everett is designed for people: built environment serves needs of all, promoting prosperity, health, equity, and resiliency.
  • UF-2: Everett is an integrated city of residential, mixed use, commercial, industrial, public facilities, open space, and natural habitats.
  • UF-3: Metro Everett is a carefully designed, attractive, bustling, and diverse metropolitan center.
  • UF-4: Everett is a city of neighborhoods that are healthy, equitable, and sustainable.
  • UF-5: Ensure the continued growth and vitality of Everett's employment areas.
  • UF-6: Natural areas and wildlife habitats are protected and restored.
  • UF-7: Critical areas are preserved to promote and protect public health, safety, welfare, and environment.
  • UF-8: Land, waters, and shorelines significant to Tulalip tribal culture are protected.
Stronger Policy Language (50 policies in this chapter)
  • UF-2: Determine, implement, and maintain Comprehensive Plan land use designations through zoning designations and target densities shown in the Future Land Use Designations table.
  • UF-46: Designate, classify, and regulate protection of critical areas, consistent with state law and state agency rules.
  • UF-53: Development proposals that may impact critical areas or their buffers must include a critical area analysis, report, and impact mitigation plan, prepared by a qualified professional.
  • UF-56: Prohibit alteration of Category I wetlands; discourage alteration of Category II wetlands; and where wetland impacts are unavoidable, require replacement and compensation.
Show all 50 stronger policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 46 stronger policies are catalogued in the Real Record civic data warehouse and indexed by policy number against the adopted plan text. See how policies are scored →
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (20 policies in this chapter)
  • UF-51: Evaluate a program to retrofit existing roads with water quality and quantity stormwater system improvements to minimize pollution from roadway runoff.
  • UF-61: Consider correcting the highest priority fish passage barriers to improve the conservation of ESA-listed and non-listed salmonid and residential fish populations.
  • UF-65: Maximize retention of healthy tree cover and native vegetation. Encourage restoration, replacement, and enhancement of unhealthy trees and disturbed vegetation.
  • UF-66: Piped stream segments should be daylighted during redevelopment where scientific analysis demonstrates that substantial habitat function can be restored.
Show all 20 aspirational / monitoring policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 16 policies in this bucket use language like “encourage,” “support,” “consider,” or “monitor” — phrasing that does not create an enforceable commitment. See how policies are scored →

SAY vs DISCUSS: Did this come up in meetings?

Real Record has not yet indexed any Everett briefings tagged to this chapter’s topics. Browse all Everett council and planning briefings to see related discussions in context.

View Everett Briefings →

SAY vs DO: Where the Money Goes

Departments related to Urban Form Element in Everett — what the city actually funds, year over year.

Budget analysis for this chapter is in progress. Real Record has mapped 1 Everett department to this chapter, but the FY2006 / FY2025 line-item totals are not yet loaded into our civic data warehouse. In the meantime, browse the city-wide budget comparison on the index page.