Lakewood planners open 2026 comprehensive-plan docket, outline dozen state-driven law changes

The Lakewood Planning Commission on Sept. 3 opened the city’s 2026 comprehensive plan and development-regulation docket, identifying roughly 21 proposed amendments and saying about 12 respond directly to new state law. Andrea Bell, the city’s senior planner, told the commission that the hearing tonight was the start of a multi-step process: the commission sets a docket, the City Council may revise it, and substantive review — including State Environmental Policy Act analysis and review by the Washington State Department of Commerce and Department of Ecology — follows. Bell said the docket lists a mix of state-law required and locally initiated items and cautioned that “we may pull some things out, before council takes action on the docket list” if the state issues implementation guidance that affects local compliance. Among state-driven items Bell summarized were updates related to lot splitting (noted in the packet as bill 1096), building-code and energy-efficiency rules including passive-house retrofits (cited as House Bill 1183 in the packet), optional self-certification for accessory dwelling units (House Bill 1353), transit-oriented housing and multifamily property-tax exemptions (House Bill 1491), historic-landmark designation rules with owner-consent provisions, and several changes to parking, subdivision, and child-care siting rules (packet citations included HB 5184 and other bill numbers listed by staff). Bell said the city’s next procedural steps are a public hearing before the commission on Sept. 17, a potential commission action Oct. 1, and a City Council hearing and action this fall (council action was noted on the current schedule for Nov. 3). If the docket is set, staff will prepare substantive ordinance language and environmental review for commission consideration next spring. Commissioners asked detailed questions about specific points in the packet, including how new state language affects minimum setbacks and parking requirements. Bell responded that the packet’s summaries are preliminary and that staff will review current Lakewood code for consistency with each listed bill and draft precise code language only after further analysis. The commission did not take a final vote to adopt the docket package at the Sept. 3 meeting; that procedural step will occur at a later hearing if the commission decides to formally set and forward a docket recommendation to council. Looking ahead, Bell said that some state-mandated items might not need local code edits if Lakewood already complies; conversely, some changes will require ordinance amendments and follow-up agency review. The commission scheduled more detailed review and public hearings for the specific amendments, directing staff to return with draft code language and analysis where changes appear necessary.