Lake Stevens planners propose code edits to make design review more objective under new state law

At its Aug. 4 meeting, the Lake Stevens Planning Commission heard a staff presentation on proposed amendments to the Lake Stevens Municipal Code intended to implement recent state legislation, including House Bill 1293, by making design-review criteria objective and integrating design review with the overall development-review process.

The revisions aim to remove subjective words such as "encourage" or "may" and replace them with clearer, measurable standards so applicants can know in advance whether a design meets the city's rules. "This is for HB 1293, the design review process. It's removing subjective language from the existing design review criteria," said Amber Rookenshire, the city's new planner presenting the item.

Why it matters: the change will affect new commercial, industrial, multifamily, civic and institutional structures that are already subject to the city's design guidelines. Commissioners emphasized the potential local effects on project feasibility and on state-driven goals for housing production.

Staff said HB 1293 requires that design review include "one or more guidelines,…