Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Middle Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lake Forest Park schedules special meetings for middle‑housing code deliberations; June 30 state deadline looms
Summary
Council and staff set a schedule for considering middle‑housing code amendments that implement the state Department of Commerce model ordinance: introduction May 22, a special council deliberation on June 9, a public hearing June 12, and potential follow‑up June 16 to allow final action before the late‑June deadline.
Director of Community Development Mark Hoffman told the Committee of the Whole on May 19 that the city is preparing local code amendments to implement the Department of Commerce model ordinance for middle housing and accessory dwelling units.
Hoffman summarized the required changes as aligning Lake Forest Park's code with the state mandate for tier‑3 cities: "The biggest change ... you no longer are limited to 1 primary dwelling unit and 1 accessory dwelling unit permitted by rent. The options ... are 2 scenarios. 1, you could have 2 primary dwelling units or duplex by definition, or you could have 1 primary dwelling unit and 2 accessory dwelling units," he said. Hoffman emphasized the amendments are market‑rate development allowances and that critical areas and tree protections remain in force.
Why it matters: State law requires local adoption of middle‑housing provisions; the Department of Commerce model ordinance takes effect July 1 if a jurisdiction has not enacted compliant regulations. The city must act before that date to adopt its locally tailored code.
Schedule and outreach: The committee agreed to an introductory council presentation on May 22, followed by a staff‑led special council deliberation on June 9, a public hearing at the regular meeting on June 12, and a possible additional deliberation on June 16 if significant public comment requires further council action. Staff indicated June 26 and June 30 are possible dates for final council action if needed to meet the statutory timeline.
Staff and planning commission role: Hoffman said the planning commission focused on the minimum state mandates and put other policy ideas (for example, affordable housing tools) into a "parking lot" for future discussion. He also said SCJ (consultant) work is part of the record but that planning staff will be the principal presenter to council for these meetings.
Next steps: Council members asked for a redline copy of the affected code sections and said staff should continue outreach, including website postings and targeted notices. Hoffman said the full set of amendments is lengthy (roughly 80–85 pages) and that staff will post materials to the city website and make them available for council and public review ahead of the scheduled meetings.
