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Kenmore council splits over whether to keep supermajority for development agreements
Summary
Council debate over whether development agreements should require a five‑member supermajority ended without a decision; a motion to pursue changing the requirement to a simple majority failed for lack of support and staff will leave the status quo unless further direction is provided.
Kenmore — Council members debated whether to retain a supermajority (five of seven) requirement to approve development agreements or to permit approval by a simple majority (four of seven). After discussion on July 28, no change was adopted: a motion to pursue altering the rule failed for lack of a second and the current supermajority requirement remains in place pending any future direction.
Background: City staff summarized current practice and statutory authorization. Kenmore’s code added a supermajority requirement for development agreements in 2012 and extended it in 2015 to apply to deviations for land use, residential density, floor‑area ratio, and maximum height. Staff cited RCW 36.70B and WAC 365‑196‑845 as the statutory framework that authorizes development agreements.
Arguments and council positions: Supporters of retaining the supermajority standard said development agreements are rare and represent departures from carefully deliberated land‑use code; requiring five votes ensures broader council consensus before allowing exceptions. Council members favoring a change said the supermajority creates additional barriers to housing and economic development and that standard land‑use decisions routinely pass on a simple majority.
Outcome at the meeting: Council did not adopt an amendment. Staff will not proceed with code edits unless council gives explicit direction to change the vote threshold and start the public‑hearing and adoption sequence.
