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Mukilteo council approves 2026 comprehensive-plan docket after heated debate over waterfront Lot 5 and growth targets
Summary
The council approved the recommended 2026 docket 4–3, advancing studies on zoning changes, setback reductions and affordable-housing metrics; discussion focused on whether to add a proposed rezoning of Lot 5 (Central Waterfront Park) and on regional population targets from PSRC.
The Mukilteo City Council voted 4–3 on Feb. 2 to approve the city’s recommended 2026 comprehensive-plan docket, advancing a slate of study items that includes zoning and design standards, potential setback reductions in mixed-use zones and a review of affordable-housing metrics.
Senior Planner Sarah Kress told the council docketing is a preliminary step that allows applicants and staff to do formal submittals, public outreach and planning-commission review later in 2026; docketing itself does not rezone property. “This initial docketing does not cost [applicants] because we want to run it past council,” Kress said, adding formal submittals would carry fees if applicants move forward.
Debate centered on a newly added item: whether to consider rezoning Lot 5 (Central Waterfront Park), a 1.19-acre city parcel that some residents say should remain public parkland under the 2016 waterfront master plan. A council amendment to remove Lot 5 from the recommended docket failed on a 5–2 vote in the amendment stage (Champion and Dixon supported removal), and the final motion to adopt the unamended docket passed 4–3, with Council Members Dixon, Champion and President Moon recorded as voting no.
Residents who spoke urged the council either to honor the waterfront master plan or to slow the process. “Selling parkland to fund other city priorities is a permanent decision,” former councilmember Kevin Stoltz said during public comment, asking the council to pause any sale or rezoning of Central Waterfront Park.
Developers and landowners urged faster code changes in other docket items. Shiza Damjee, owner of property at Mukilteo Speedway, asked the council to expedite code amendments on setbacks and affordable-housing requirements that she said are blocking townhome development; she recommended a 10-foot front setback for townhomes and said the current 10% affordable requirement at 80% AMI is a disincentive to build for-sale townhomes.
Planner Kress and staff warned that amending population targets or making certain numeric changes now could put Mukilteo’s comprehensive plan out of compliance with regional/state certification requirements administered by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). “If you amend those numbers, then the whole thing is out of compliance,” Kress said, adding that a five-year review in 2029 is the next formal check-in for population targets.
Councilmembers split on timing: supporters of docketing argued the waterfront and port discussions are active now and the city should engage; opponents said some items (notably Lot 5) are politically fraught and could wait one year. Kress said docketing only authorizes study and planning-commission review and does not itself change land use; any rezoning or development agreement would return to council after the public process.
The docketed items will proceed to planning commission review, public outreach and (if formal submittals occur) later hearings; staff said applicants must pay filing fees for formal submittals and that a final public hearing and council decision would come after planning-commission recommendations.
