Mill Creek's town center plans shape up

By DARRELL GLOVER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Residents in this city of 8,500 became acutely aware of the need for a "focal point" for their community during a Christmas tree lighting event a few years ago.

A surprising 500 people showed up for the first of what has become an annual event at City Hall, and there was really no place for them to gather except the parking lot, said Bill Trimm, director of community development. Itwas apparent the community needed a public arena.

The concept of the Town Center with a public plaza for community gatheringsthen evolved out of the city's comprehensive plan.

"Mill Creek was never planned as a town," Trimm said. "It was planned asa residential satellite community to Seattle and Everett. But that plan reallydidn't provide for a downtown."

Instead of a downtown, Mill Creek has several shopping centers and some commercial buildings. The residential development was begun in the early 1970s; Mill Creek was incorporated in 1983.

Rather than sit back and regulate development, Trimm said, the City Councildecided to let the citizens of Mill Creek decide what they wanted in the Town Center.

A steering committee of citizens, merchants, councilmembers and planners was formed. The city also hired Makers Architecture and Urban Design to help develop the plan.

After three alternative plans were put together, the city held a series of citizen workshops.

"As a result (of the workshops), the steering committee came up with a fourth alternative plan, which the planning commission and City Council adopted as the preferred plan," Trimm said.

The Town Center will be built on 18 acres of a 30-acre site north of the City Hall.

The concept of the Town Center is that it will be "more of a village and not a megamall," Trimm said. "People did not want more strip malls."

Retail spaces will be laid out for easy access by pedestrians, who won't have to worry about vehicle traffic.

The focal point of the Town Center will be a plaza with a clock tower and village green, and the developer will be required to dedicate them to the city, Trimm said. A community center and streets through the center also willbe public, he said. The city will manage the public places.

A 150,000-square-foot building with office and retail space is planned on the plaza, Trimm said. Other office buildings, retail structures and 110 multi-family residential units also are planned.

Areas for some type of recreation also will be developed as well as facilities for lodging, Trimm said. Heights of structures would be limited to 50 feet or about four stories.

"A trail system that connects with the existing residential community, existing businesses and McCollum Park to the north" will be part of the development, Trimm said.

The Town Center also will be connected to Community Transit for easy bus service. The design and costs are expected to be completed in four to six months, Trimm said. Agreements with a developer could be worked out by next summer, he added. Public hearings would then be held.