Everett Mayor Set City’s 1st Buffer Zones In South By Evergreen Fred Meyer, In North Around 2600 Block Of Rockefeller

Wednesday afternoon Julie Willie, Community Development Director for the City of Everett, Washington advised the Safe Community Committee of the Everett City Council that on Friday July 21st Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin selected the first two areas for Service Facility Buffer Zones.

The designated areas would limit sitting, laying or setting up structures in a two-block area around qualified service providers. Also included in the areas suggested for the buffers would be places where overnight shelters are located as well as places that have been identified as problem areas where drugs are openly being used. Those who would want to pass out meals, items or provide services withing a buffer zone would also have to apply to the City of Everett for a permit to undertake that activity.

The City Council passed the ordinance establishing the buffer zones on May 4th. The ordinance will sunset on December 31, 2025. Here is a link to the ordinance.

Willie explained that the first step within the next 30 – 45 days is for staff to share the information with Everett City Council, to post information on the City of Everett webpage with the maps and also put up a link to a permit for people to fill out if they would like to have permission to provide items or services to people within the buffer zones.

The first buffer zone is centered in south Everett in roughly the 8500 – 8600 blocks of Evergreen Way including the Fred Meyer store and former Bank Building that have been the source of numerous complaints. To the north it stretches along Evergreen Way to Bruin Boulevard and to the south along Evergreen Way to 4th Avenue West. Along Holly Drive and E. Casino Road to the east and west along Casino Road to 5th Avenue West.

The second buffer zone is centered on the UCC Church, site of a current shelter at 2624 Rockefeller and stretching in a two block area in each direction with the northern border at 24th street, the southern border at Hewitt Avenue, the eastern border at Lombard Avenue and the western border along Hoyt Avenue.

Willie said the City will conduct outreach to those within the zones to educate people there but there were no plans to post formal signage or physically mark the boundaries. You can click here to see her presentation to the Safe Community Committee Wednesday afternoon.