Bothell planning commission advances study of multimodal transportation impact fee updates

Planning commission staff on Dec. 17 presented proposed updates to Bothell Municipal Code Title 17 aimed at implementing the city’s 2024 comprehensive plan multimodal level of service and updating the transportation impact fee program.

Boyd Benson, Public Works utilities and development services manager, said the changes move Bothell away from a vehicle‑trip concurrency model toward a ledger‑based person‑trip approach that treats vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders as part of the same system. “We are looking to update the transportation impact fee approach to comply with multimodal level of service and to utilize the transportation improvement plan within the comprehensive plan,” Benson said.

Kenda (Kenda/Kendra) Breeland, consultant, explained the technical approach and the ledger concept, telling commissioners the city will estimate person trips from new development (demand) and track capacity supplied by transportation projects so the city can ensure investments keep pace with growth. She cited the Growth Management Act as the underlying concurrency authority and said the city is using the latest trip‑generation data, including recent updates to the trip generation manual.

Staff said the updated impact fee schedule largely retains prior categories but reflects updated cost estimates and includes policy reductions for affordable housing, early learning facilities, multifamily tax exemption projects, developments adjacent to rapid transit or in growth centers, and a change‑of‑use exemption. The code update has been submitted to the Washington State Department of Commerce for the statutorily required 60‑day review; staff expect a city council hearing Feb. 3, 2026, and adoption after Commerce and SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review.

Commissioners asked how the city will provide outreach and educational materials about the technical proposals. Commissioner Lever pressed staff on whether presentation slides are posted to the public packet; staff said slides are part of the public record and available on request, but they are not always finalized at packet time. Commissioner Gustafson probed how commercial uses are categorized for fees (example given in the presentation: a convenience store vs. specialty retail) and asked how small, community‑serving businesses in Canyon Park would be treated. Staff responded that fees are rooted in trip generation and that the city allows independent assessments when a development’s trip generation credibly differs from the fee table.

The public hearing on Title 17 closed with no in‑person or Zoom commenters beyond a previously submitted written comment. Commissioners directed staff to refine the findings and recommended adding language on review cadence; staff indicated the transportation impact fee project list and revenue needs will be evaluated periodically (staff proposed a 3–5 year review cadence) and that edits tying the updates to prior policy actions (for example, reduced parking for affordable housing) would be added before forwarding recommendations to council.

Next steps: staff will revise the draft findings and bring the item back to the commission for a short follow‑up study session; the council public hearing on the Title 17 updates is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2026, with adoption to follow Commerce and SEPA review.