Council reviews Planning and Public Spaces work plans; asks staff to add sign-code tweaks and Miyawaki forest items

Council reviewed proposed 2026 work plans for the Planning Commission and Public Spaces Commission during a study session on Jan. 6. Staff summarized 2025 accomplishments—updates to critical areas regulations, middle-housing implementation, project-permit procedures and other routine items—and outlined anticipated 2026 tasks.

Planning Commission priorities mentioned included completing design-review standards to meet new legislative objectivity requirements, addressing a ground-floor residential/CBD zone matter, processing the annual docket of comp-plan amendments, updating codes for inclusionary zoning, and continuing implementation of the East Road mixed‑use zone. Staff noted work on nonconforming-use provisions in the CBD following a December council direction and said they would coordinate on transportation-infrastructure standards where needed.

Public Spaces Commission items included a tree code and plant species list update, community art and a public-art policy, Eastrail planning and coordination, completion of design for the Wilmot boat launch, replacement of the Rotary Park play structure and consideration of a splash pad in a new development. Council members asked staff to add modest sign-code changes to support local businesses—citing recent business closures and requests from the Chamber and Woodinville Wine Country—and asked that the Miyawaki (pocket) forest idea be advanced given community interest. Several council members emphasized making Eastrail mixed-use zone work a high priority to avoid future bottlenecks.

Staff said they will take council feedback to the two commissions, produce refined work plans and return to council for final consideration in February.