Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Process Code Phase1 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lake Stevens planning commission forwards Phase 1 process‑code changes to council with wording tweaks
Summary
The commission recommended forwarding Phase 1 process‑code amendments—making interim permit‑timelines permanent and removing subjective design language—to the City Council with a requested edit to retain a reference to 'neighborhood character' and additional staff wordsmithing before council review.
The Lake Stevens Planning Commission recommended that the City Council consider permanent amendments to the city’s process code on Nov. 19, moving language that was adopted under interim ordinance 11‑92 into the permanent code and removing subjective review terms.
David Levitan, the city’s principal planner, told the commission the Phase 1 package codifies permit‑review timelines required by recent state updates and House Bill 12‑93 and shifts design review into an associated land‑use determination. He said staff also proposed reclassifying site‑plan review as a Type 1 administrative process for projects judged solely on objective development standards.
Commissioners pressed staff on specific wording. Commissioner Durrer asked why the draft removes the phrase “neighborhood character” (14.46.020.b). Levitan said staff removed that phrase to reduce subjectivity and improve enforceability, but offered the commission the option to retain a reference to character in its recommendation. Multiple commissioners, including Jennifer Davis and Connor Davis, said they want a term that preserves local character considerations even as the code becomes more objective.
“Neighborhood character is important to Lake Stevens,” Commissioner Connor Davis said during deliberations, urging the commission to preserve language that captures architectural and streetscape elements.
After discussion the commission voted to approve the code amendments as drafted, with a recommendation that staff reinsert or otherwise retain a reference to neighborhood character and re‑examine one site‑plan exemption clause for clarity. Commissioner Packard made the motion to forward the proposal and Commissioner Dewar seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.
Staff said they will refine the wording identified in the meeting packet and present the cleaned text to city council as part of the adoption process. The code amendments will still require final council action.
The commission also approved routine meeting minutes and other procedural items during the session.
