Edmonds planning board narrows walkable-overlay, votes rules on ADUs and unit limits

The Edmonds Planning Board on a special meeting night voted to continue development of a ‘‘walkable’’ Low-Density Residential Walkable (LDRW) overlay for middle housing, but narrowed the approach and set specific limits on heights and accessory dwelling units.

The board voted 4-2 to continue drafting the LDRW overlay but restricted the concept to carefully selected arterial locations and limited vertical scale to 25 feet flat or 30 feet with a pitched roof as an interim maximum for further study. The board also adopted two other measures: ADUs will be permitted only on single-family homes and will count toward the lot’s unit limit, and ADUs’ maximum height will remain 24 feet. Separately, the board endorsed state-mandated middle-housing density structure—generally two units per lot with the option to allow up to four units on a lot if one unit is restricted as affordable.

Why it matters: the LDRW overlay would create locations where townhomes, courtyard apartments or other street-oriented forms could be allowed near hubs and centers; height limits and ADU rules determine how that new housing could look and how many homes a property can carry. The board’s changes narrow where taller or denser residential forms would be allowed and attempt to protect lower-scale neighborhoods while still meeting state middle-housing requirements.

Board debate…