Shoreline council reviews six-item 2026 comprehensive plan docket; no votes taken

City planning staff presented the proposed 2026 comprehensive plan docket at the Feb. 9 Shoreline City Council meeting and outlined six amendments—four recommended by staff and two privately (resident) initiated proposals—that the council will consider for the city's 2026 work plan. Staff emphasized this was a discussion-only study item; the council took no final votes on the docket itself.

Planner Steve Saffron summarized the docket: Amendment 1 would add surface water master plan goals and policies; Amendment 2 carries over an update to the Town Center subarea plan; Amendment 3 would update the 145th/148th Street Station subarea plan for multimodal connectivity; Amendment 4 updates the 185th Street Station subarea plan, including connectivity analysis and potential flexibility for nonresidential uses; Amendment 5 is a privately initiated request to change a portion of 11th Avenue NW from Neighborhood Residential 2 (NR2) to Neighborhood Residential 3 (NR3); and Amendment 6 is a privately initiated proposal to add neighborhood greenways goals and policies to the transportation element.

Staff noted the state limits the city to amending its comprehensive plan no more than once per year and that action on the docket is scheduled for Feb. 23. Saffron told council he would return with more detailed work products and that the planning commission recommended adding all six amendments to the final docket.

Public commenters who live on or near 11th Avenue NW urged caution on rezoning given narrow streets, limited sidewalks and emergency vehicle access, and argued that much of the block lies outside a half-mile walk-shed to frequent transit. Neil Woods, an 11th Avenue resident, said a half-mile radius map shows almost all of his dead-end street is outside the transit radius and asked the council to study rezoning and safety improvements instead of immediate upzones. Neighbors provided counts of current parking constraints and described a seasonal ravine and critical-area constraints at a property on the block.

Council members asked staff clarifying questions: one asked whether the phrase "citizen-initiated" in staff reports could be updated to "resident-initiated"; another asked whether North City would be included in the 185th subarea connectivity work. Staff said the connectivity work would consider connections to North City and explained the planned-action ordinance and threshold updates are part of the subarea work; staff also said modifying subarea boundaries and land-use standards is generally out of scope for this year's limited amendment window.

Several council members expressed support for carrying the items forward for study and suggested placing the docket on the Feb. 23 consent calendar so the public knows the items are on the work plan and staff can proceed. Mayor Robertson confirmed action is scheduled for Feb. 23 and explained the consent calendar process. No council member moved to approve or deny any amendment during this meeting.

Next steps: staff will continue work on the six amendments and return with detailed analyses; the council will consider formal action at its Feb. 23 meeting.