Lake Stevens council, planning commission align on 2025 work program and seek clearer liaison communication

Lake Stevens City Council and the Planning Commission met in a joint workshop on Jan. 21, 2025, at the municipal mill to review and ratify priorities for the 2025 long-range planning work program and to discuss stronger communication between the council and the commission.

Community Development Director Russ Wright told the joint body the proposed 2025 work program focuses on a code process update tied to an interim ordinance, a streets-and-sidewalks update coordinated with Public Works, housing implementation and incentives, adoption of critical aquifer protections as part of a mandated critical areas update, and continued work on the Lake Stevens Industrial Center and the annual comprehensive plan docket. "This moves forward with the interim ordinance that we enacted earlier this year," Wright said, and noted some items — particularly parking — may await state action before the city amends local rules.

The Planning Commission presented feedback gathered in a staff survey and at its January meeting. David Levitan, senior planner, summarized the survey results and commission discussion: "housing implementation, as expected, was a top priority for several of the commissioners, I think 4 out of the 7." Levitan said…