Edmonds staff revives push for Unified Development Code to reduce redundancies and speed permitting

Edmonds planning staff told the Committee of the Whole on Oct. 21 that the city will pursue a Unified Development Code to bring the community-development provisions (titles 15'24) into a single, stacked format that reduces redundancy and makes code updates more efficient.

"When you open up the Critical Area Code, you start with the general provisions and then you work through what the application or review requirements are gonna be," planner Brad Shipley said, describing a stacked or form-based approach in which building types and frontage types sit at a higher level and local zoning districts reference those components. That structure, staff said, would allow a single edit to a building type to propagate to all locations that use it.

Why it matters: Staff argued the current code has evolved piecemeal for decades and is maintained in silos, which increases permit review time, requires multiple rounds of revision for applicants and raises administrative costs. A UDC would create a common regulatory language and reduce redundant provisions across chapters.

Scope, timeline and costs: Shipley told the committee the work is ambitious but achievable. "I would say the minimum amount of time would probably be two years," he said, with much of 2026 devoted to setup and stakeholder engagement and 2027 used to move draft code through adoption. Staff estimated a targeted consultant study (land-use economic and fiscal analysis) would cost roughly $125,000, plus illustration or graphic work; Shipley said much of the initial work could be done in-house if council is willing to prioritize staff time.

Council response and regional coordination: Councilmembers expressed support, asked for cost-benefit evidence and suggested borrowing templates from nearby cities that have adopted UDCs (Shoreline, Lynnwood, South Bend and others were cited). Jenna suggested exploring coordinated code language along the Highway 99 corridor with neighboring jurisdictions; staff said regional coordination is possible but zoning must remain tailored to local priorities.

Next steps: Staff will return with further detail on scope and resourcing and will seek council direction about the pace of work and any consultant scope. No adoption or funding appropriation occurred at the meeting.