Lake Forest Park planning commission advances middle-housing code amendments, agrees to send draft to Commerce for review

The Lake Forest Park Planning Commission on a consensus vote agreed to forward draft amendments implementing state middle-housing requirements to the Washington State Department of Commerce for the required 60-day review, while leaving more detailed incentive work for later meetings.

The commission’s action follows a multi-hour discussion of proposed edits to Chapters 17 and 18 of the city municipal code that would add unit-lot subdivision language, update accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) rules, rename some single-family zones to “low-density residential,” and add tree-canopy provisions to subdivision standards.

The changes respond to state legislation and guidance the commission cited repeatedly. “Where we’re at is we passed the comprehensive plan in 2024 that was the veil and policy level supporting bridal housing. This is the development regulations that applies to specific properties and zoning,” a staff presenter said during the review, explaining the difference between plan-level policy and the code amendments under discussion. Planning staff and consultants said the draft must be in Commerce’s hands in time to meet the July 1 statutory timeline for model-ordinance compliance.

Why it matters: the amendments implement state-mandated changes that require municipalities to allow certain middle-housing types and to clarify how units are counted on lots. Commissioners and consultants emphasized that the initial ordinance must meet the statutory minimums; the commission…