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Mountlake Terrace advances middle-housing work as state law and local plans converge
Summary
State lawmakers stressed housing supply at the Mountlake Terrace State of the City, and city leaders outlined local code updates and a housing action plan to expand middle housing types such as duplexes, townhomes and cottage housing.
Mountlake Terrace officials described work this year to expand “middle housing” — housing types between single-family homes and larger multifamily buildings — and said it aligns with recent state legislation and regional planning goals.
City Manager Jeff Knighton and Mayor Kyoko Matsumoto Wright said the city is updating local zoning codes and drafting a housing action plan to encourage duplexes, townhomes and cottage housing while protecting neighborhood character. "We're taking a major step toward addressing our housing needs by creating new middle housing regulations so that we are doing our best to provide opportunity for everyone to call Mountlake Terrace home," Mayor Kyoko Matsumoto Wright said.
The effort comes after state lawmakers at the event emphasized housing as a legislative priority. Senator Sullivan said the state-level middle housing legislation aims to increase housing opportunities and ensure units "fit the form and function of single family" neighborhoods so their exterior appearance blends in. Representative Cindy Ryu said the Legislature has made "historic investments in affordable housing" and noted the House and Senate budget negotiations prioritized funding to keep people housed.
City staff described public engagement steps taken this year, including a March 26 open house on middle housing types and a Terrace Talks session scheduled to discuss middle housing on June 11. Jeff Knighton said the city is working on a code update and a housing action plan to implement the community’s vision.
Officials said the middle-housing work is intended to align Mountlake Terrace’s policies with regional plans. The presentation referenced PSRC’s Vision 2044 and recent state legislation as context for local code changes. Staff also noted ongoing outreach to explain urban design tradeoffs and incentives for middle-housing development.
No formal vote or ordinance was adopted at the event; city leaders described ongoing rulemaking and outreach. City officials said further details and draft code language will be released through public meetings and online materials as the work proceeds.
