The City of Bothell Planning Commission on May 21 voted unanimously to forward draft findings, conclusions and recommendations for Phase 2 of the 2024 comprehensive plan code amendments to City Council.

The vote matters because the Phase 2 package would change multiple sections of the Bothell Municipal Code to align zoning and development standards with the Imagine Bothell Comprehensive Plan adopted in December 2024, including removing minimum off‑street parking requirements and allowing limited neighborhood‑scale commercial uses in residential zones.

Jacqueline Sampson, planner with Community Development, presented the draft findings and recommendations and described the requested action: the commission could approve, approve with revisions or deny the draft recommendation before it is taken to council. “The purpose of the Phase 2 code updates is to align the Bothell municipal code with the city's values and visions around future development as highlighted in the 2024 Bothell comprehensive plan,” Sampson said.

Key changes in the draft forwarded to council include:

- Adding neighborhood‑scale commercial uses in specified residential zones;
- Removing minimum off‑street parking requirements and decoupling bicycle and shared‑vehicle parking standards from vehicle‑parking calculations;
- Removing maximum building coverage provisions and revising variance and comprehensive‑plan amendment docketing processes (several topics such as floor‑area ratio and lot coverage were deferred to a later work plan);
- Updating code sections identified in the draft findings and recommendations (Attachment 2 of the staff packet).

Commissioners asked clarifying questions. Commissioner Robson asked how the code would handle temporary loading and delivery needs once parking minimums are removed; Sampson replied those needs are addressed in the city’s street standards and right‑of‑way provisions and remain a topic for related design‑standards work. Commissioner Westerbeck flagged a parenthetical note in the draft amendment criteria that staff said had already been removed in the next version.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation documents the hearings, public outreach and earlier study sessions that informed the package. If the council follows the commission’s recommendation, staff will present the draft to council in a study session on June 3, hold a public hearing June 17 and target a final ordinance on July 1.

Action: Commissioner Westerbeck moved to adopt the draft findings, conclusions and recommendations and Commissioner Jones seconded; the motion carried unanimously and the commission forwarded the package to City Council.

Ending: Commissioners and staff said they will continue outreach and follow‑up work on related topics — including parking enforcement, street‑standards updates and middle‑housing incentives — as the code amendments proceed to council. The commission scheduled a June 3 meeting to return with further housing‑incentive and middle‑housing discussion.