South Town Center Subarea Project

The South Town Center (STC) Subarea project is a City-led planning effort to transform underutilized land into a vibrant, walkable district that supports new housing, jobs, local businesses, and public gathering spaces. This long-term redevelopment builds on years of community planning and represents the next chapter in Mill Creek’s evolution as a connected, forward-looking city.

The State of Washington requires cities like Mill Creek to accommodate significant population and job growth over the next 20 years. By focusing on development in a single, well-planned area, the City can protect the character of existing neighborhoods while ensuring that new infrastructure, parks, and public spaces meet the needs of our growing population.

No. Through engagement with project partners and the community, the City is creating the vision and setting the stage by planning roads, zoning, utilities, and public amenities, but actual redevelopment of individual properties will be driven by the property owners in the subarea.

No. The City does not decide who leases private commercial space. Property owners and developers manage leasing based on market demand. However, the City’s plan will encourage a diverse, neighborhood-serving mix of shops, services, and gathering places to support a true town center experience.

No. The City does not have authority to set commercial lease rates. Rent is determined by property owners and the private market. However, by encouraging a mix of building types and storefront sizes, the City is working to make space more accessible to a range of businesses.

Although there are some exceptions, RCW 35.21.830 states: "No city or town of any class may enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances or other provisions which regulate the amount of rent to be charged for single-family or multiple-unit residential rental structures or sites" Meaning the City is unable to set the rental rates for residential properties under state law.

There are no current mandates or requirements for affordable housing in the STC. While the City may explore partnerships or incentives in the future, any housing will be designed to meet Mill Creek’s high standards and reflect community priorities. The primary goal is to provide thoughtfully designed housing options that support local workers, families, and long-term community sustainability.

The current zoning for the STC has a 5-story height limit, but this may be altered by the STC Subarea plan. The planning process will study different height and density options and weigh them against community feedback, traffic capacity, and design quality. Some areas may support taller buildings, while others may be scaled down to respect existing development. Height decisions will be made in consultation with our project partners and the community.

Protecting and enhancing natural assets is a core part of the South Town Center Subarea plan. The North Creek Trail will be preserved and improved as a central feature of the district, and the greenbelt along the trail is a protected area. The plan will also improve water quality in North Creek by modernizing the subareas stormwater infrastructure.

The City is working with engineers and consultants to design new streets, intersections, and trails that make it easier and safer to move through the area—whether by car, foot, bike, or stroller. Future development will be required to provide parking, and the City is exploring structured parking to reduce surface lots and improve walkability.

The South Town Center Subarea Plan seeks to help Mill Creek’s existing businesses remain and thrive as the area evolves into a more vibrant, walkable destination. While state growth requirements and the City’s Comprehensive Plan anticipate redevelopment, the Subarea Plan seeks to ensure it happens thoughtfully with policies that encourage phased redevelopment, support affordable and flexible commercial spaces, and promote early coordination between property owners and tenants. In short, the Subarea Plan is about guiding growth and expanding opportunity, not displacing it, keeping Mill Creek’s local character and business community at the heart of its next chapter.