Planning staff propose neighborhood‑scale commercial rules, parking changes and administrative cleanups for Phase 2 code update

Jacqueline Sampson, long-range planner for the City of Bothell, presented draft Phase 2 development‑code amendments May 7 that would: define and scale neighborhood‑scale commercial uses; revise parking and related bicycle/ride‑share provisions; simplify coverage standards by removing maximum building coverage where appropriate; and clarify several administrative procedures.

Sampson said the neighborhood‑scale commercial approach follows Department of Commerce guidance and, after City Council feedback, staff proposes a scale that sets the maximum commercial footprint at the greater of 1,800 square feet or 30% of the lot’s net billable area, capped at 2,500 square feet. "That ensures even very small lots can support functional commercial space, while preventing very large lots from producing out‑of‑scale…