Planning Commission outlines major housing, zoning and infrastructure work for 2026
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Summary
The Planning Commission presented 2025 accomplishments and a 2026 work plan emphasizing code changes to implement recent state housing bills, floodplain and critical‑area updates to retain FEMA eligibility, sub‑area planning, and administrative changes reflecting new permit review timelines.
Mountlake Terrace — The Planning Commission told the city council on Feb. 19 that its 2025 work set the city up for 2026 implementation steps tied to state housing policy and local infrastructure planning.
Matthew Gissow, the city’s building official, detailed a list of 2025 accomplishments and a proposed 2026 work plan. He said the commission reviewed and recommended “comprehensive housing zoning amendments” to align with state legislation identified on the slides as House Bill 1110 and House Bill 1337, expanded allowed housing types (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage housing and townhouses), and completed a development feasibility analysis specific to Mountlake Terrace. “This was a major structural zoning shift and position Mountlake Terrace for long term housing capacity,” Gissow said.
The commission also recommended updates to the city’s critical areas and floodplain management ordinances to maintain FEMA compliance and continued work on an urban‑forest management plan and a community trip‑reduction plan that supports transit‑oriented development goals. Gissow said staff and commissioners are preparing for code amendments and map changes in a second phase to translate policy direction into clear, implementable zoning.
Council members asked follow‑ups on short‑term rental regulations and which sub‑area plans would be prioritized. Staff said short‑term rental proposals will appear before the council soon and that two sub‑area plans are likely to get early focus — the town center (including light‑rail adjacency) and a gateway/Northeast quadrant — but exact choices will be finalized after internal prioritization.
The presentation also referenced administrative updates to reflect Senate Bill 5290 (permit review timelines) and an engineering design manual refresh to incorporate recently adopted code updates and improve implementation.
What happens next: Staff indicated short‑term rental regulations will come to the council for discussion soon. The Planning Commission will continue code implementation work and host public engagement for sub‑area updates as part of the 2026 work plan.
