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Planning staff set timelines for middle-housing ordinance, housing action plan and critical‑areas update
Summary
At the June 23 meeting staff said City Council will hold a public hearing on middle‑housing ordinances later this week; the Planning Commission will be introduced to a housing action plan at its next meeting; and a required critical‑areas ordinance update is due by the end of 2025, with staff aiming to complete work by October.
Planning staff told the Mountlake Terrace Planning Commission on June 23 that the city is advancing several code and plan updates this year, including a public hearing on middle‑housing ordinances, a housing action plan that must go through state review, and a required update to the city’s critical‑areas ordinance.
The director’s report said City Council will conduct a public hearing on the middle‑housing ordinances this Thursday; staff completed two council work sessions after the commission’s recommendation and described recent edits as clarifications to implementation language rather than substantive policy changes. The commission will receive an introduction to the housing action plan at its next meeting and will be asked to review strategies and content before the plan proceeds to state review and then to council for adoption.
Staff also said the city is reviewing its critical‑areas ordinance — the local regulations that govern wetlands, steep slopes, fish and wildlife habitat, flood‑prone areas and aquifer‑recharge zones — to align with best available science and guidance from state agencies. The director said the critical‑areas update is required and staff are aiming to have drafts ready for commission review and to adopt the ordinance by fall; staff said they hope to complete critical‑areas work by October to avoid end‑of‑year scheduling delays.
Other code work flagged for 2025–26 includes building‑code amendments, revisions to a prescriptive home‑occupation ordinance to reflect contemporary home‑based work, and administrative‑review procedure changes tied to recent state legislation. The director told commissioners that neighborhood sub‑area planning is planned for 2026 and that the commission should consider priorities for next year now, so staff can shape a work program.
Why it matters: Middle‑housing and the housing action plan are components of Mountlake Terrace’s effort to respond to regional housing needs and state planning requirements. Critical‑areas updates carry environmental compliance implications and draw upon state agencies’ technical guidance, which can affect permitted development and requirements for permits and mitigation.
Commissioners were asked to expect public outreach with affordable‑housing providers and other housing stakeholders and to plan for multiple review meetings this summer and fall. Staff recommended the commission provide early input on the housing action plan, and commissioners signaled interest in prioritizing neighborhood‑level planning and coordinated engagement.
