The Sequim Planning Commission on Sept. 16 reviewed a docket of site‑specific redesignation requests submitted as part of the city’s comprehensive‑plan periodic update and heard staff recommendations to address market constraints through a mix of selective redesignations and zoning‑code amendments.

Carla, a city planning staff member, told commissioners the work will be phased to align with the comp‑plan update: initial zoning amendments to meet state housing mandates and affordable‑housing incentives, followed by nonresidential use‑table revisions and other code updates. Staff and consultants from Leland Consulting are completing a housing and economic market study before joint Council‑Commission briefings expected this fall.

Travis, a planning staffer who presented the redesignation slate, said the packet includes applications for sites across the city and emphasized that no formal action was required at the meeting—this was an introductory review. For some properties staff recommended adjusting use tables rather than changing FLUM designations so existing uses would not become nonconforming.

On a pair of parcels owned by AFS Properties currently designated Regional Commercial (RC), staff recommended adding a narrowly defined “travel services” use to RC instead of converting those parcels to Highway Commercial (HC). The change would accommodate highway‑oriented services while preserving the site’s existing mini‑storage operation and avoiding nonconforming‑use status.

For several lots near the River Road interchange, where three of four parcels are currently developed with single‑family homes that became nonconforming after an earlier rezoning, staff recommended returning those parcels to residential (R48) to restore conformity. For former High‑Tech Light Industrial (HTLI) parcels that have seen little activity, staff recommended redesignation to Community Mixed Use (CMU) to allow multifamily and community retail consistent with market interest.

Staff also proposed making HC more flexible citywide. Several smaller parcels with built structures are functionally too small for the large‑site retail envisioned under RC; rather than rezoning each property to RC, staff will propose HC use‑table amendments to allow neighborhood and convenience retail, personal/professional services and other uses more likely to occupy smaller existing buildings.

A recurring theme from the discussion was giving the market more usable options while avoiding broad FLUM changes. "We think it's easier to update the RC use table to incorporate travel services than converting the parcel to HC," Travis said. Property owners who spoke at the meeting generally expressed appreciation for staff outreach and the city’s responsiveness.

One applicant, Serenity House, discussed a proposed permanent supportive housing project on a site now developed with 17 units that would be nonconforming under certain zones. Staff recommended using Washington’s affordable‑housing incentives authority (RCW 36.70A.540) to create an alternative‑standards process allowing higher density for qualifying affordable projects instead of a wholesale redesignation. Sharon Meggard, executive director of Serenity House, said she has applied for $12,000,000 in funding to support the project and aims to develop approximately 34 units on the site.

Staff outlined next steps: draft zoning‑ordinance language to implement the proposed use‑table changes and incentives, follow up with applicants to confirm whether they wish to proceed with redesignation in spite of staff recommendations, and aim to complete redesignations and code packages for Council consideration by early 2026 with public hearings in spring and early summer 2026.

Meeting business ended with routine approvals (minutes and adjournment). The Planning Commission will revisit the future land‑use map and proposed zoning changes at upcoming meetings, including an Oct. 7 discussion of the FLUM and later joint sessions with Council and Leland Consulting.