MARYSVILLE – City Planning Director Dave Koenig is usually low key.

He was again at the City Council meeting Monday, even though he had some powerful news to share – about developments that could bring a few hundred jobs to town.

He said Coastal Farm and Ranch has filed permits to take over the old K mart on State Street. The 100,000-square-foot building has been empty for some time.

According to its website, Coastal Farm and Ranch sells: pet and livestock supplies, clothes like workwear and footwear, outdoor supplies such as lawn and garden, heating and cooling systems, safes, fencing, tools, automotive and farm supplies. The company has 15 stores in Washington and Oregon, with the closest one in Mount Vernon.

That wasn’t the only business news Koenig shared.

Also getting permits are three new car dealerships along Smokey Point Boulevard north of 156th Street. The dealerships will sell Toyotas, Nissans and Chrysler-Dodge.

Those developments weren’t the only positive economic news shared at the meeting.

Mayor Jon Nehring, various council members and city staff also talked about a recent gathering of builders and developers. “Marysville’s the place to be,” Nehring said. “There’s not much else available. Finding land to the south is rare.”

He added that more economic diversity to this region could be coming soon. “The road we’ve been on the past few years is starting to pave,” he said.

Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen added that, “Developers can’t believe how much is going on in the city of Marysville.”

Councilman Michael Stevens said of that meeting, “It made me stand a little taller. We are developing the city the right way.”

Councilman Stephen Muller said the message developers heard is that Marysville listens. “That bodes well for future development,” he said.

Meanwhile, Parks Director Jim Ballew said the Ebey Waterfront Trail should be done in mid-April so it will open to the public on Earth Day, April 22. He also said a dance last weekend at the Marysville Opera House sold out and brought many people to town to eat at local restaurants.

Muller, who attended the dance, said, “It’s great to see life in that building again.”

Councilwoman Donna Wright said the public safety committee talked about cleaning up a homeless camp. She said it’s done very humanely, giving them 10 days notice to vacate.

Nielsen said in his travels he sees homeless everywhere. “We’re just moving them all around,” he said. “It’s a big problem for the region. There’s no quick solution.”

In other council news:

•Larry Nelson is retiring after 33 years with the Marysville Fire Department.

•Maryke Burgess in the parks department is leaving to take a job in Everett.

•Two new police dogs have been certified as trackers and soon will get a designation in narcotics.

•Adopt-a-stream will provide riparian restoration planting on 8.8 acres at Strawberry Fields.

•Jane Shafer received her 10-year pin working for the city.

•Mark Johnson is the new caretaker at Jennings Park.

•Kelly Huestis was reappointed to the parks committee.

•The city now as 35 Neighborhood Watch groups.