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Snoqualmie work continues to resolve growth targets, zoning map to show where affordable units could be sited
Summary
City staff described steps to secure comprehensive plan certification from PSRC and Department of Commerce guidance requiring zoning designations that show where affordable units could be located.
Director Davis told the committee that the city has routed its comprehensive plan to the Washington State Department of Commerce and is awaiting certification from the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). She said a buildable lands analysis must be reconciled with growth targets before PSRC certification can be completed.
Why it matters: Certification affects the city’s planning status and eligibility for certain grants, and committee members said the requirement to show where affordable units could be sited adds pressure given limited buildable land in Snoqualmie.
Key points from the meeting: Director Davis said, “We actually have to designate on our zoning map where the affordable units would go. We don't necessarily have to build them, but we have to show where they would go on our zoning map.” Council members noted that PSRC and Commerce guidance had pushed some allocations toward the 0–30% AMI range, which would require significant subsidy and may not address broader workforce affordability tiers.
Council Member Johnson pressed for clarity on what state or regional support would accompany those allocations, asking whether grant and subsidy programs would be realistic for a small city. Director Davis said she had discussed Commerce’s expectations and that the city must reconcile its buildable lands analysis to the growth targets in order to proceed to PSRC.
Staff directions and next steps: staff will update the buildable lands analysis and zoning map parcels as required, and will coordinate with the consultant who worked on the comprehensive plan. Director Davis indicated the certification timeline could be adjusted to fourth quarter if needed.
Discussion vs. decision: the committee discussed the certification steps and acknowledged the need to show parcel-level zoning for target housing; no formal vote was taken at the meeting.
Ending: Staff will continue the reconciliation work with PSRC and Commerce and report back to the committee as the comprehensive plan certification progresses.
