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Lakewood staff outline 2025 comprehensive plan amendment package, including 'coliving' rules and ADU changes
Summary
City planning staff presented a 12‑item 2025 comprehensive plan amendment package that includes state‑required changes for housing, new local definitions for co‑living, ADU minimum size proposals, park rezones and a commute trip reduction plan.
Lakewood, Washington — City staff and the planning commission reviewed a 12‑item package of proposed 2025 comprehensive plan amendments at Monday’s study session, ranging from state‑required code updates to locally initiated rezones.
Tiffany Spear, Lakewood’s planning manager, told the council the package now includes changes that the state requires — for example, rules to allow housing in certain existing commercial buildings by June 30 to avoid state supersession — and locally requested rezonings for Primley Park and Harry Todd Park to reflect current park uses.
Key items in the packet summarized to council:
- Co‑living (formerly SRO) regulations and definitions: a model ordinance was prepared with other jurisdictions; it includes operation and development conditions and will be included in the council’s public hearing materials.
- Middle housing updates required by House Bill 1110 to align development regulations with state law.
- Residential parking and definition updates, including changes to the city code references (18A.10180) and the commute trip reduction plan that requires adoption by June 30 to meet state timelines.
- Accessory dwelling units (ADUs): staff reviewed 15 jurisdictions and recommended no minimum ADU size; the planning commission recommended a 400‑square‑foot minimum for attached and detached ADUs. That difference reflects competing priorities: enabling smaller, more flexible living units versus setting a clear minimum to guard against temporary or substandard units.
- Allowing housing in certain existing commercial or mixed‑use buildings when zones permit multifamily: staff emphasized state deadlines for rulemaking on this topic.
Spear noted the planning commission also recommended resurrecting civic use language that had been dropped in a 2019 rewrite and suggested additional language for religious assembly and daycare uses in particular zones.
Council members debated how the package should handle coliving and ADU standards. Councilmember Mike Brandstetter (phonetic) and others urged caution, asking whether the city can attach stronger health and safety requirements — such as inspection under the rental housing safety program — to co‑living conversions. Several council members suggested staff return with clearer options on whether safety and sanitation standards can be added without conflicting with state law that limits local restrictions.
No final action was taken; the council will hold a public hearing the following week and is scheduled to act on amendments in early June.
