A Primer on Planning: How the Planning & Development Services Team Helps Turn Ideas into Reality

Every structure, building, neighborhood, or park in Snohomish was once an idea. Turning ideas into reality can be a long and complex process, but the City’s Planning & Development Services (PDS) Department works hard to make it as easy and efficient as possible. As one staffer put it: “We’re all passionate about what we do, and it’s fun, and we want to help the public in any way we can.” How, then, does a building go from being an idea to bricks and mortar?

Land development can be a complex and confusing process, so PDS staff emphasizes the importance of working with project applicants and members of the public throughout the process. There are several options available to get a project started, including a virtual counter appointment to discuss your ideas with staff or a pre-application, which is a free service that gets you written feedback about project feasibility and code compliance. Or simply walk in to City Hall during office hours.

PDS is here to help, so if you get stuck at any point during the process, don’t hesitate to reach out. As PDS staff say, they want to work with applicants to “get to yes.” Planning Director Brooke Eidem puts it this way: “Planning is a balance between regulatory frameworks and the community vision.” Codes and standards are in place to not only protect the health and safety of the community, but to ensure that development aligns with the City’s vision for the future. PDS staff take great care to ensure fairness in how these codes and standards are applied. “I apply all our policies exactly the same across the board,” says Permit Coordinator Hoole, “even when the City is the applicant.”

PDS staff support several City boards and commissions. These are the Parks & Recreation Board, Design Review Board, and Planning Commission. They are also hard at work preparing the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update. Staff are eager to see the results of the department’s new approach, which places a premium on community engagement so that the goals and policies of the plan are informed by the public. “Planning helps create the future of what Snohomish looks like,” Planner Chulsky says. “We help the public achieve the best use of what the city has to offer.”

PDS staff can be found at City Hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but you will also see them at the Snohomish Farmers Market and other community events. The department is currently a six-member team, although they will soon be joined by a Code Enforcement Official:

• Brooke Eidem, Planning & Development Services Director

• Koi Simpson, Building & Fire Official

• Leah Chulsky, Planner

• Thomas Kreinbring, Assistant Planner

• Katie Hoole, Permit Coordinator

• Natalie Furness, GIS Coordinator

City News, continued

The City of Snohomish welcomed several new faces to City Hall over the past three months, including:

• Leah Chulsky, Planner, who joined us from the City of Bellevue after almost 24 years in Development Services and remains passionate in her commitment to community.

• Natalie Furness, GIS Coordinator, who has taught GIS for the last few years at Western Washington University while completing a master’s degree focused on habitat modeling for cereal grains in Northwest Washington.

• Robert Hartman, Maintenance Worker – Collections, who began his stormwater career in the City of Mill Creek.

• Nate Callen, Senior Engineering Technician, who worked as a welder until he joined the City.

• Alisha Hendren, Finance Director, who joined the City from Sno-Isle Libraries.

• Trevor Nieman, Maintenance Worker – Collections, who has worked in machining before joining the City.

New Chief of Police

In April, the City announced that Lt. Mike Martin was selected as the new Snohomish Chief of Police, replacing Chief Rob Palmer who retired in June after almost 35 years of service. “I am both excited and honored to be chosen as the next Snohomish Police Chief,” said Lt. Martin.

“I have big shoes to fill and look forward to working hard with the men and women of the Snohomish Police Department to maintain public trust through exceptional police service.”