Centers
Centers are compact, well-designed areas that concentrate a variety of land uses all in one place. Centers are also people-oriented living and working places small enough to allow residents to walk to shops and perhaps a bus stop or other mass transit stations.
Centers have been identified by the County and its cities where significant population and employment growth can be located, a community wide focal point can be provided, and the increased use of transit, bicycling and walking can be supported. These centers are intended to be compact and centralized living, working, shopping and/or activity areas linked to each other by high capacity or regular bus transit. The concept of centers is pedestrian orientation with pedestrian circulation, pedestrian scale and pedestrian convenience with a mix of uses.
An important component of a center is the public realm. The public realm is areas within the center that the public has access to for informal rest and recreation activities such as walking, sitting, games and observing nature. The public realm, along with residential and employment uses, define a sense of place and give the center an identity.
Snohomish County has designated several centers throughout southwest Snohomish County. They fall into four types: Urban Center, Transit/Pedestrian Village, Urban Village and Manufacturing and Industrial Center.
Use the links below or to the left of this page to find out more about Snohomish County's Centers Program or call the Centers Project Manager, Ryan Countryman at (425) 388-3311, extension 2304, or e-mail him at Ryan.Countryman@co.snohomish.wa.us with particular interests and concerns.