Dear students, teachers, and parents,
The City of Mukilteo informed us on May 12 that per municipal zoning codes, we are not authorized to operate out of Pointe of Grace church, effective immediately. Pointe of Grace sits on space that is zoned single-family residential, and has a conditional use permit, likely dating back to its inception. As a separate entity, Gene Nastri School cannot use Pointe of Grace's permit. I inquired about applying for our own conditional use permit, and was informed that the process takes 120+ days, the fees total $5,630, and we would not be authorized to use the space in question until and if the application was approved.
For your reference, the applicable zone is RD 8.4, and the permitted uses table is here:
https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Mukilteo/#!/Mukilteo17/Mukilteo1716.html#17.16
Note that schools, clubs, charitable, nonprofit or social organizations are considered conditional use for zone RD 8.4. The Zoning Districts planning map is here: https://mukilteowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/Mukilteo_Current_Zoning_2021_11.pdf
What this means for you:
You will have the option to move to online lessons via Zoom video call for the remainder of the lessons you have paid ahead for. You may ask your teacher whether they are willing to hold lessons at a mutually agreeable private location, but they are not obligated to make that available. If neither of these options work for you, we will offer a refund for lessons you have paid for that you haven't used. After you have used your remaining lessons or received a refund, your teacher will become independent of the school, and you are welcome to continue taking lessons with your teacher at the tuition rate that they set, and the school will close.
I know this is very sudden and distressing. The situation certainly blindsided the School. As a small-budget nonprofit with limited resources, we have no way of fighting this decision. Please let me know if you have any questions, and I will try to answer them. Below, for your information, is the email I wrote to the City planners and mayor.
Best wishes,
Julie Buetow, Director
Gene Nastri Community School of Music
425-789-1097
info@genenastrischool.org
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Dear Ms. Ritter, Ms. Kress, Mayor Marine,
Upon reviewing the allowed uses for zone RD 8.4, I realize that schools, clubs, charitable, nonprofit or social organizations are considered conditional use. My argument is with the fee charged for a conditional use permit application. The total application fee of $5,630 is unattainable for the vast majority of nonprofit schools and charitable organizations. This essentially is a pay-to-play system that only works for well-endowed, established nonprofits or private schools, and shuts out small nonprofits focused not on fundraising, but on the public good. Lease rates for commercial property are out of sight for most small-budget nonprofits, which is why the Gene Nastri School did not seek space in a commercially-zoned property.
Historically, we were forced out of the Rosehill Center in 2011 when the old community-focused Rosehill Center was torn down and replaced by an expensive wedding venue with classroom rental rates that are unaffordable for many organizations. At our most recent location on the Speedway that we leased from 2011-2022, utility costs, especially Mukilteo Water and Wastewater rates, in addition to low student numbers during the pandemic eventually forced us out.
As a result, students and teachers of the Gene Nastri School and the Mukilteo community as a whole are losing a long-time, valued community music school that has provided lessons to a generation of students, and provided a part-time income for numerous music teachers.
Sincerely,
Julie Buetow, Director
Gene Nastri Community School of Music
425-789-1097
info@genenastrischool.org
The City of Mukilteo informed us on May 12 that per municipal zoning codes, we are not authorized to operate out of Pointe of Grace church, effective immediately. Pointe of Grace sits on space that is zoned single-family residential, and has a conditional use permit, likely dating back to its inception. As a separate entity, Gene Nastri School cannot use Pointe of Grace's permit. I inquired about applying for our own conditional use permit, and was informed that the process takes 120+ days, the fees total $5,630, and we would not be authorized to use the space in question until and if the application was approved.
For your reference, the applicable zone is RD 8.4, and the permitted uses table is here:
https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Mukilteo/#!/Mukilteo17/Mukilteo1716.html#17.16
Note that schools, clubs, charitable, nonprofit or social organizations are considered conditional use for zone RD 8.4. The Zoning Districts planning map is here: https://mukilteowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/Mukilteo_Current_Zoning_2021_11.pdf
What this means for you:
You will have the option to move to online lessons via Zoom video call for the remainder of the lessons you have paid ahead for. You may ask your teacher whether they are willing to hold lessons at a mutually agreeable private location, but they are not obligated to make that available. If neither of these options work for you, we will offer a refund for lessons you have paid for that you haven't used. After you have used your remaining lessons or received a refund, your teacher will become independent of the school, and you are welcome to continue taking lessons with your teacher at the tuition rate that they set, and the school will close.
I know this is very sudden and distressing. The situation certainly blindsided the School. As a small-budget nonprofit with limited resources, we have no way of fighting this decision. Please let me know if you have any questions, and I will try to answer them. Below, for your information, is the email I wrote to the City planners and mayor.
Best wishes,
Julie Buetow, Director
Gene Nastri Community School of Music
425-789-1097
info@genenastrischool.org
------------------------------------------------------
Dear Ms. Ritter, Ms. Kress, Mayor Marine,
Upon reviewing the allowed uses for zone RD 8.4, I realize that schools, clubs, charitable, nonprofit or social organizations are considered conditional use. My argument is with the fee charged for a conditional use permit application. The total application fee of $5,630 is unattainable for the vast majority of nonprofit schools and charitable organizations. This essentially is a pay-to-play system that only works for well-endowed, established nonprofits or private schools, and shuts out small nonprofits focused not on fundraising, but on the public good. Lease rates for commercial property are out of sight for most small-budget nonprofits, which is why the Gene Nastri School did not seek space in a commercially-zoned property.
Historically, we were forced out of the Rosehill Center in 2011 when the old community-focused Rosehill Center was torn down and replaced by an expensive wedding venue with classroom rental rates that are unaffordable for many organizations. At our most recent location on the Speedway that we leased from 2011-2022, utility costs, especially Mukilteo Water and Wastewater rates, in addition to low student numbers during the pandemic eventually forced us out.
As a result, students and teachers of the Gene Nastri School and the Mukilteo community as a whole are losing a long-time, valued community music school that has provided lessons to a generation of students, and provided a part-time income for numerous music teachers.
Sincerely,
Julie Buetow, Director
Gene Nastri Community School of Music
425-789-1097
info@genenastrischool.org
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