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Council reviews Planning Commission's recommended development regulation amendments for 2025 periodic update
Summary
Planning Director John Coleman presented the Planning Commission's recommendations for the 2025 periodic update to development regulations, including a 111-page draft and additional commission modifications.
John Coleman, director of Planning, Community and Economic Development, briefed the council on Nov. 3 about the Planning Commission's recommendations for the 2025 periodic update of the development regulations tied to the comprehensive plan. Coleman explained the materials in the council packet and the schedule for council deliberations.
Coleman said attachment A contains a 111-page draft of proposed code changes; attachment B summarizes 23 additional Planning Commission modifications and attachment C is the zoning map aligned to the future land use map. He told the council the work responds to statutory changes and local policy direction, including implementing parts of the city's housing action plan and state legislative changes that affect accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
"We're bringing those development regulations to the city council," Coleman said, explaining the packet and the procedural path. He outlined the anticipated schedule: council questions and initial deliberations Nov. 10, a second read on Nov. 24 (with Nov. 17 not expected to include comp plan discussion), and a statutory deadline to finish the update by the end of 2025.
During public comment on the same item Dennis Clark urged the council to reconsider a Planning Commission decision that would limit duplexes on smaller lots in some zones. "I strongly support the development regulations update changes, increased density, explicitly allowing new types of middle housing not previously permitted," Clark said, arguing duplexes increase housing capacity incrementally.
Council members asked staff about tie-ins to pending legislation and appeals: a SEPA appeal involving draft ordinance 4092 (revised permit review time frames) could delay adoption of related code changes; Coleman said staff will coordinate around items affected by that pending SEPA appeal.
No formal council action was taken on Nov. 3; the item was scheduled for further council discussion and possible action in subsequent meetings before the statutory year-end deadline.
