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Bothell begins housing action‑plan work; staff asks for council guidance on goals and outreach
Summary
City planners outlined a Housing Action Plan update tied to the 2024 comprehensive plan, asked council for input on goals and outreach strategies, and described concurrent work on middle‑housing code and a density/affordability study.
Senior long‑range planner Ray Sosa told council on April 1 that staff is moving from scoping to community engagement on a Housing Action Plan update intended to implement the 2024 comprehensive plan and to update the city’s 2018 housing strategy.
Sosa said the plan will examine existing policy and propose strategies to increase housing supply, expand housing types (including middle housing and accessory dwelling units), support transit‑oriented development, foster subsidized affordable housing and broaden community voice in housing decisions. Staff is seeking council guidance on draft goals and on how to structure outreach to underrepresented groups and property owners.
In parallel work, staff said it will review the city’s middle‑housing provisions and an existing mixed‑income tool (referred to in the packet as an M and T or MMT ordinance) with external consultants to increase the program’s visibility and usability for developers and to identify mechanisms that could produce dedicated affordable units near transit. Sosa provided a preliminary timeline: community engagement through 2025, a preliminary draft by late 2025 or early 2026, and a final plan by mid‑2026 for council consideration.
Council members urged clear definitions for terms such as “affordable housing” versus “housing people can afford,” suggested preapproved ADU plan templates and clearer step‑by‑step help for homeowners who want to add units, and urged regional coordination and attention to land‑cost constraints. Staff said an RFP for an engagement specialist and coordination with downtown and climate planning efforts are underway to ensure cross‑plan outreach.
Why it matters: The Housing Action Plan will drive zoning and program changes that shape where and what kinds of homes can be built in Bothell, and the plan’s outreach and definitions will affect how residents understand tradeoffs and outcomes.
Ending: Staff asked council members to send feedback on the draft goals and outreach approach so the next phase of engagement can begin; a community engagement kickoff is planned for the coming months.
