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Council continues public hearing on state-required "step housing" and co-living code changes to Dec. 9
Summary
The council kept the public hearing open on code changes implementing staterequired step housing and coliving provisions (Ordinance 12 o 9), asking staff to draft clearer definitions—particularly for "transitional housing"—or to propose bumping transitional housing to a type 2 land-use review; public comment emphasized removing buffers to preserve access to services.
The Lake Stevens City Council continued its public hearing on proposed code amendments to implement step housing and co-living provisions of state law and scheduled the matter for additional review and comment on Dec. 9.
Principal Planner David Levitan reviewed the purpose of the ordinance (12 o 9): to bring the municipal code into compliance with state changes that require cities to permit a range of housing types including emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing in zones where residential uses are allowed, and to allow "co-living" in areas where multifamily housing of six units or more is permitted. Levitan summarized the planning commission process and noted the Department of Commerce requested a stronger "nexus" analysis for spacing and buffer provisions between some uses and protected uses (schools, day-care, libraries).
Council members and the public pressed for clearer definitions. Several council members asked staff to add explanatory language about transitional housingthat the planning staff and county agencies treat transitional housing as programs operated by agencies that require leases, supportive services and oversight tied to state/federal funding. David and other staff proposed two paths: (1) add a clarifying footnote or definition referencing Department of Commerce/HUD language and bring alternatives back at the next meeting, or (2) reclassify transitional housing as subject to a type 2 land-use application with public notice and a site-management plan.
Tasha, a council member-elect, spoke from personal experience about the difference between emergency shelter and transitional housing and urged removal of arbitrary buffers that would limit access to libraries and services. Other council members expressed concern that a type 2 process could stigmatize transitional projects and prefer clearer definitions in the code. Staff agreed to draft clearer, plain-language definitions and present alternatives at the Dec. 9 hearing. The public hearing remained open to that date.
