Editing Mountlake Terrace, Washington (section)

==Geography==

Mountlake Terrace is in southwestern Snohomish County, approximately {{convert|14|mi|km}} north of [[Downtown Seattle]] on [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]].<ref name="Times-2006">{{cite news |last=McManman |first=Don |date=June 3, 2006 |title=Mountlake Terrace now in sweet spot for affordability, easy commuting |page=E4 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20060603&slug=realneighborhood04 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |date=March 2013 |title=Snohomish County Urban Growth Areas and Incorporated Cities |url=http://www.snoco.org/docs/scd/PDF/PDS_UGA/County_11x17.pdf |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> It is on the southern border of the county, beyond which lies the cities of [[Shoreline, Washington|Shoreline]] and [[Lake Forest Park, Washington|Lake Forest Park]] in [[King County, Washington|King County]].<ref name="Times-2006"/> The [[city limits]] are generally defined to the west by Hall Creek and the [[Interurban Trail (Snohomish County)|Interurban Trail]], separating it from [[Edmonds, Washington|Edmonds]]; to the north by 212th Street Southwest and [[Lynnwood, Washington|Lynnwood]]; and to the east by 39th Avenue West and [[Brier, Washington|Brier]].<ref name="StreetMap">{{cite map |date=April 2014 |title=City Street Map |url=https://www.cityofmlt.com/DocumentCenter/View/259/City-Street-Map-PDF |publisher=City of Mountlake Terrace |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.16|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.06|sqmi|sqkm|2|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.10|sqmi|sqkm|2|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="Census-Gazetteer">{{cite web |title=2018 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2018_Gazetteer/2018_gaz_place_53.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>

The city sits on a [[plateau]] that is elevated from the surrounding landscape, with views of the [[Olympic Mountains|Olympic]] and [[Cascade Mountains|Cascade]] mountains.<ref name="Comp-LandUse">{{cite web |date=September 2019 |title=Land Use Element |work=City of Mountlake Terrace Comprehensive Plan |page=LU-1 |url=https://www.cityofmlt.com/DocumentCenter/View/21857/Land-Use-Element-2019-Updated-Map |publisher=City of Mountlake Terrace |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> The Mountlake Terrace's elevation ranges from {{convert|263 to 528|ft|m}} above sea level, with an average altitude of {{convert|440|ft|m}}.<ref name="ParksPlan">{{cite web |date=December 2015 |title=Recreation, Parks and Open Space Master Plan |pages=6–8 |url=https://www.cityofmlt.com/DocumentCenter/View/2067/Recreation-Parks-and-Open-Space-Master-Plan-2015 |publisher=City of Mountlake Terrace |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> The southwestern portion of the city includes the {{convert|100|acre|ha|adj=mid}} [[Lake Ballinger]], which is fed by Hall Creek from Lynnwood and discharges into McAleer Creek towards [[Lake Washington]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Fyall |first=Chris |date=May 29, 2008 |title=Lyon Creek removed from Ballinger efforts |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/uncategorized/lyon-creek-removed-from-ballinger-efforts-2/ |work=The Enterprise |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lake Ballinger |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5353/Ballinger |publisher=Snohomish County Public Works |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> Other portions of Mountlake Terrace lie in the watersheds of Lyon Creek and Swamp Creek, which both drain into Lake Washington.<ref>{{cite map |title=Critical Areas: Water & Wildlife Features |url=https://www.cityofmlt.com/DocumentCenter/View/558/Water-Wildlife-Features-Map |publisher=City of Mountlake Terrace |access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |date=November 16, 2006 |title=Watershed and Hydrologic Features Map |url=https://www.cityofmlt.com/DocumentCenter/View/257/Watershed-Boundaries-Basins-PDF |publisher=City of Mountlake Terrace |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref>

===Neighborhoods===

Mountlake Terrace is divided into six designated neighborhoods for use in [[urban planning|city planning]]: the Town Center, Cascade View (formerly North Terrace), Cedar Terrace (formerly East Terrace), Gateway, Lake Ballinger, and Melody Hill.<ref name="Facilities">{{cite map |date=May 2016 |title=Public Facilities Map |url=https://www.cityofmlt.com/DocumentCenter/View/9789/Public-Facilities-PDF |publisher=City of Mountlake Terrace |access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Enterprise-Melody">{{cite news |last=Zappala |first=Jenny Lynn |date=March 3, 2008 |title=Moving in, moving up |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/uncategorized/moving-in-moving-up/ |work=The Enterprise |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>

* The Town Center between 220th and 236th streets is home to several retailers, restaurants, and civic buildings near Veterans Memorial Park.<ref name="Herald-60Years">{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=October 16, 2014 |title=60 years on, Mountlake Terrace is still making a splash with families |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/60-years-on-mountlake-terrace-is-still-making-a-splash-with-families/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> It is planned to be developed into a [[mixed-use development|mixed-use]] community with commercial and office space alongside denser housing.<ref name="Herald-TC2019"/>
* Cedar Terrace is located east of the Town Center and Terrace Creek Park, which is along a section of Lyon Creek. The neighborhood is predominantly residential, with a [[shopping center]] and several apartment complexes along Cedar Way.<ref name="Comp-Livability">{{cite web |date=December 2017 |title=Community Livability Element |work=City of Mountlake Terrace Comprehensive Plan |pages=8–11 |url=https://wa-mountlaketerrace2.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/17982/Community-Livability-Element |publisher=City of Mountlake Terrace |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> 
* Cascade View encompasses the north side of the city, stretching from Interstate 5 in the west to the border with Brier in the east. It is predominantly residential and also includes the high school campus and a shopping center.<ref name="Comp-Livability"/>
* The Gateway neighborhood is a mostly residential neighborhood to the south of the Town Center with a commercial center near Interstate 5 and its interchange with State Route 104.<ref name="Comp-Livability"/> A parcel at the western edge of the neighborhood is being developed into a three-building complex with 600 apartments and retail.<ref name="Herald-Station2018"/>
* The predominantly residential Lake Ballinger neighborhood is located at the southwest corner of Mountlake Terrace, between the Interurban Trail and Interstate 5, and includes the eponymous lake.<ref name="Comp-Livability"/>
* Melody Hill has a mix of [[office park]]s, industrial businesses, and apartment buildings located in the northwest corner of the city.<ref name="Comp-Livability"/> The neighborhood is located atop a hill west of Interstate 5 and north of Lake Ballinger.<ref name="Enterprise-Melody"/>