Lake Forest Park planning commission forwards middle-housing and ADU code amendments to city council

Lake Forest Park planning commissioners voted Tuesday to forward a package of middle-housing and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) code amendments to the City Council, recommending changes intended to meet state deadlines and to implement unit-lot and zero-lot-line subdivision procedures.

The action came after a staff and consultant presentation and public comment. Kirsten Peterson of SCJ Alliance summarized state requirements and deadlines, saying, “Failure to do so by the deadline means that the city is going to be subject to the model ordinance developed by by the Department of Commerce.” The commission approved amending local code language and will send the draft ordinance to council for public hearing and final action.

The commission’s decision matters because Lake Forest Park is classified as a tier 3 city under recent state legislation, which requires cities in that category to adopt middle-housing regulations by June 30, 2025. Peterson told commissioners that the state’s guidance requires cities to allow certain middle-housing types and for single-family lots in qualifying…