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Issaquah unveils a 2026–27 work plan to promote building investment in central city core
Summary
City planners and economic development staff presented a 17-item work plan focused on permitting improvements, builder outreach, and targeted code amendments (FAR, stepbacks, amenity and parking rules) to spur development in central Issaquah and near planned transit stops.
Issaquah — City planning and economic development staff on March 9 presented a 2026–27 work plan aimed at promoting building investment in the city’s central core, with an emphasis on enabling more housing, improving predictability for builders and supporting future transit-oriented growth.
Planning Manager Kristen Leon outlined 17 proposed amendments and initiatives, spread across quarters through 2027, that include revisiting floor-area ratios in mixed-use zones, adjusting outdoor-amenity and stepback requirements, clarifying transparency standards for facades, and exploring ADU self-certification. Economic Development and Housing Manager Alexis Spitz Simmons described ongoing builder roundtables and a plan to market Issaquah’s improvements to the development community.
Council members focused discussion on priorities and metrics: several requested staff identify the highest-impact, measurable changes (what will most increase smaller, more affordable units and transit-supportive density) and asked for comparisons with nearby cities. Staff warned that some items — notably an impact-fee recalculation tied to transportation and parks capital plans — will require consultants and budget requests (estimates ranged from roughly $200,000 up to $400,000 depending on scope). Council members emphasized balancing speed (quick wins that change perception) with preserving neighborhood character and long-term transit goals.
