Developers tell Lynnwood council permitting delays, fees and tree rules deter small builders

Lynnwood council members on Oct. 15 heard roughly two hours of feedback from local small builders, developers and affordable‑housing firms who said permitting timelines, inconsistent local rules and certain mitigation costs are key barriers to producing ownership and missing‑middle housing in the city.

Council President Coelho convened a developers roundtable after a technical briefing on the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance. Participants included small builders and contractors and representatives of larger workforce and affordable housing developers. Speakers praised Lynnwood’s planning staff but described repeated setbacks in entitlement and permitting processes that raise carrying costs and discourage smaller entrants.

Drew Corwin, a local small‑scale developer, said his firm is building duplexes under the new code and that dealing with incremental requirements has been time‑consuming. Wilson (last name not specified), another small builder, said time equals money: “If we’re waiting for permits, we’ve got interest on loans and nothing coming in,” he said. Several speakers repeated a common refrain: faster, predictable permitting paths for small projects would allow more local builders to enter homeownership production.

Mike Appleby, vice president at Chicago Title with long experience in Snohomish County development, urged…