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Development & Business Services outlines cuts, holds planned-action and annexation work
Summary
Ben Walters, director of Development & Business Services, told the council the department froze several vacancies and laid off one planner to meet the 2025 budget shortfall, delayed consultant‑funded planned‑action work for Alderwood, and is monitoring an uptick in ADU/permit activity.
Ben Walters, director of Lynnwood’s Development & Business Services (DBS), briefed the council on cuts the department made to help the city reach adopted budget targets and on where work will be delayed.
Walters said DBS froze three vacancies (an administrative assistant, a combined plan‑reviewer/building‑inspector position and the former economic‑development manager role), transferred a senior construction inspector from Public Works, and laid off one planner and one permit‑center technician. The department also cut roughly $300,000 in consultant spending for planning work, with a further $50,000 reduction planned for 2026.
Why it matters: Walters said the consultant reductions will delay work on a planned‑action ordinance for Alderwood (the city already has a planned action in place for…
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