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Planning staff propose lowering planned residential development minimum from 2.5 to 1.5 acres to aid infill
Summary
A technical code amendment would reduce the minimum size for planned residential developments (PRDs) to 1.5 acres and clarify permitted modifications and applicant burden of proof; the planning commission will hold a public hearing in October and forward a recommendation to council for possible adoption Nov. 4.
Mill Creek, Wash. — Planning staff presented a proposed, targeted code amendment on Sept. 23 to the city’s Planned Area Development (PAD) regulations to make PADs more usable for infill and redevelopment.
Justin Horn, planner, said the amendment is a narrow, pre‑technical change intended to increase flexibility for infill by reducing the minimum acreage for planned residential developments from 2.5 acres to 1.5 acres. Staff also propose clarifying which zoning standards may be modified through a PAD, and placing the burden of proof for modification requests squarely on applicants.
The planning commission held a study session and asked staff why 1.5 acres was chosen; staff said the threshold was selected after reviewing local parcels that developers had found difficult to develop under current code. Horn identified two specific sites in the city where a smaller PAD threshold would make redevelopment more feasible: a parcel adjacent to the farm site near the vintage housing (to complete a spine road) and a parcel on Bothell‑Everett Highway south of 130th.
The timeline is: planning commission public hearing in October, commission recommendation to council, and a target council adoption date of Nov. 4. No policy decisions were made at the Sept. 23 council study session; the item remains in the planning review process.
