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Planning department outlines annual code‑update process to address technical and procedural fixes
Summary
New director Jeff Bridal told the Planning Commission the city will launch an annual, stakeholder-driven process to identify and fix minor, technical and procedural issues in titles 14–18 of the municipal code; the process is explicitly not for zoning or major policy changes.
Jeff Bridal, the city’s new planning director, briefed the Mill Creek Planning Commission on Jan. 16 on a new annual code‑update program intended to address minor, technical and procedural issues in the municipal code.
"Think of it like spring cleaning only takes place in the fall," Bridal said, introducing a recurring process that staff will use to collect code correction suggestions from applicants, developers, engineers and residents. He said the goal is to improve predictability and reduce processing delays caused by vague or inconsistent code language.
Bridal emphasized limits on the program's scope. "This is not the avenue for zone changes. We're not trying to change zoning. We're not trying to adopt significant policy changes," he said. Instead, staff will focus on small fixes—definitions, administrative procedures and technical clarifications—often in Titles 14 through 18 of the municipal code, Bridal said.
Process and timeline: staff plans stakeholder outreach beginning spring 2025 with surveys and meetings, a summer period of public workshops and drafting, and a fall 2025 planning commission recommendation followed by City Council review. "We're gonna be bringing this forward, and seeking planning commission recommendation. And then finally ... city council review and approval," Bridal said.
Staff said the annual process will be conducted separately from larger code projects (for example, middle housing work that must be completed by state deadlines). "We will have other code amendments working on this year, but they won't be part of the annual process," Justin said, noting the department will continue to treat significant projects—like middle housing—on separate timetables.
Why it matters: regular, predictable code maintenance is intended to reduce delays for development applicants and to clarify administration of land‑use rules. Staff invited commissioners and stakeholders to identify small, high‑impact code items for inclusion in the first annual cycle.
Next steps: outreach and stakeholder engagement in spring 2025; public workshops and drafting in summer 2025; Planning Commission recommendation and City Council review in fall 2025.
