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Lynnwood planners advance Unified Development Code rewrite to implement middle housing and simplify codes
Summary
Planning staff previewed a Unified Development Code (UDC) rewrite to consolidate zoning, design standards and permit processes and to implement state middle‑housing laws (HB 1110, HB 1337). Staff presented community outreach results favoring cottage housing, duplexes, townhomes and triplexes and said adoption is targeted for May, with the comprehensive plan due in November.
Lynnwood planning staff told the City Council on Oct. 7 they are rewriting the city's land‑use code into a Unified Development Code (UDC) to consolidate multiple titles, clarify definitions, and implement recent state middle‑housing legislation.
Staff said the UDC will bring zoning, subdivision rules, design standards and administrative permit processes into a single code to reduce duplication and legal ambiguity. The rewrite is intended to implement state requirements in HB 1110 and HB 1337 (middle housing and accessory dwelling units) and to remove subjective design language that the state now requires be objective.
Staff described a sustained outreach program — about 14 events and a postcard to every parcel — to collect community feedback on typologies. Planners said the most favored options were cottage housing, duplexes, townhomes and triplexes; 5‑ and 6‑plex configurations and courtyard apartments generally scored lower. Staff noted that state law requires the city to allow at least six of nine prescribed middle‑housing typologies by right in qualifying locations and that the state model code could take effect if the city does not adopt its own compliant rules within the statutory deadlines.
Members asked how consolidating RS4/RS8 into a single Residential Neighborhood (RN) zone would affect where denser housing can appear and whether the city can preserve single‑family neighborhoods by design standards. Planning staff said the state limits some local control over density and unit counts near transit corridors, but the city retains design tools (setbacks, height, parking and objective design standards) to shape how middle housing fits into neighborhoods. Staff acknowledged concerns about neighborhood character, parking and sunlight and said the UDC will use objective design standards to manage those impacts.
Staff said the comprehensive plan adoption is targeted for Nov. 12 and the UDC for May; in the interim applicants can still pursue variances or development agreements under current code, and staff are improving permit processing (SmartGov) to make reviews faster.
