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Committee moves park impact fee changes to public hearing after staff cites new state rule for smaller units
Summary
Staff briefed the committee on proposed updates to the county’s park impact mitigation fees to reflect current project costs and a state law (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5258) that requires lower fees for smaller housing units; committee moved the ordinance to GLS for a public hearing on May 28.
Snohomish County staff asked the Planning and Community Development Committee on May 20 to move proposed updates to the county’s park impact mitigation fee schedule to a public hearing after recent state-level changes altered fee rules for smaller housing units.
Ryan Hanbury, council staff, said the county’s fee program dates to an ordinance adopted in February 2005 and that the 2024 biennial update adjusts fees to reflect current park improvement costs and anticipated population growth consistent with the Parks Capital Improvement Program. Hanbury also said, “The recently passed engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5258 amended … to provide proportionally lower impact fees for smaller housing units and require jurisdictions to adopt and make effective implementing regulations 6 months after the required periodic comprehensive plan update.”
The nut graf: the proposed ordinance updates the county’s fee schedule and adds a definition of “bedroom” intended to limit which rooms count for per‑unit impact fee calculations. The committee heard that the Planning Commission unanimously recommended the changes on Dec. 17, 2024, and that staff wish to correct graphical errors in a substitute ordinance before final adoption.
Hanbury said a new section would be added to SCC 30.91B to define “bedroom” as “any room or space used or intended to be used for sleeping purposes in a dwelling that contains a closet and a method of egress” and to exclude spaces intended to provide support functions such as studies, nooks, dens, home offices and walk‑in closets from bedroom counts. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the fee changes on Dec. 17, 2024, the staff memo said.
Committee members raised no questions during the committee discussion. By general consent, the committee moved Ordinance 25‑029 to the Governmental Law and Services docket for a public hearing on May 28.
The county staff noted a substitute ordinance with graphical errors is being prepared; staff also indicated that technical implementing regulations will follow the state timeline described in the bill.
