Lake Forest Park council reviews middle-housing, ADU and unit-lot subdivision changes ahead of June 30 deadline

Mark Hoffman, community development director for Lake Forest Park, and consultants from SCJ Alliance outlined proposed amendments to the municipal code on Monday that the city says are necessary to meet new state middle-housing requirements.

“The planning commission made a recommendation of amendments to the Lake Forest Park municipal code to address housing…accessory dwelling units, and a little bit of cleanup,” Hoffman said. Consultant Kirsten Peterson of SCJ Alliance summarized the state context: “The 3 that are applicable to you tonight are house bills 11 10, 13 37, and 23 21.”

The proposals would require the city to allow several middle-housing types in residential zones identified as single-family–type zones under the new rules, permit two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on qualifying lots, and add subdivision provisions to allow unit-lot subdivisions and 0 lot-line short subdivisions where state density rules apply. Peterson said the work was funded in part by a Department of Commerce grant: the city “received that in the amount of 50,000 from Commerce to do the work before you tonight.”

Why it matters: If Lake Forest Park does not adopt its ordinance by the state deadline, Peterson told the council, “there is a model ordinance that the state developed that would take effect. It would essentially supersede your existing ordinance.” To avoid that result, staff and consultants are asking the council to consider the draft…