Planning board recommends narrowing North Bull Hub; council discusses housing and view impacts but takes no action

The Edmonds Planning Board recommended adjustments to the North Bull Hub boundaries and presented that recommendation to the City Council at the Oct. 14 meeting. Planning Board Chair Lee Hankins said the board considered multiple options and settled on an option that removes Grandview Street from the hub, returns several parcels (identified during the board—s deliberations) to single-family designation, and adds parcels south of Puget Drive to the hub.

Staff and the planning board said the net effect on available housing units would be minor—single-digit changes relative to the comp plan—s overall capacity. Planning staff noted the board focused on practical constraints such as street width, emergency access, and critical-area features including a creek and wetland that limit development feasibility along Grandview Street.

Council members raised multiple concerns and questions: the effect on views of Puget Sound, the need for additional traffic and pedestrian safety measures if multifamily development occurs south of Puget Drive, and whether added parcels would require property aggregation to make multifamily projects feasible. Several council members urged that the item return for formal action as part of the 2025 comprehensive-plan amendment package; staff confirmed that no council action was requested at the Oct. 14 meeting and that Commerce certification and zoning-map changes will be processed together during the formal amendment timeline.

Planning staff and several council members encouraged continued neighborhood engagement and said staff would provide calculations on unit counts and clarify access and setback implications before final adoption.