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Woodinville council refers request to study outdoor vehicle sales to Planning Commission
Summary
After public comment from a local dealer, council voted unanimously to add consideration of amending the zoning use table to allow outdoor motor vehicle and vessel sales in the General Business zone to the Planning Commission work plan.
Woodinville — Council voted to send a request to the Planning Commission to study a potential zoning amendment that would allow outdoor motor vehicle and vessel sales, rental service and repair in the General Business zone as a conditional use.
Todd Johnson, representing Lee Johnson Auto Family, told council his firm is interested in relocating to Woodinville and asked the city to consider amending code to make dealership uses feasible in the general commercial zone. "I think dealerships do bring an amazing opportunity for the city," Johnson said, pointing to community involvement and sales tax revenues.
Staff explained the change would amend the use table (21.21.090) to permit an outdoor Level 2 use—currently only indoor Level 1 uses are allowed in the General Business zone—subject to conditional use permit review. Staff noted the parcel of interest near Northeast 190th and Woodinville‑Snohomish Road is not slated to change to Eastrail Mixed Use under the comp plan, so it would retain General Business zoning.
Nut graf: Council discussed the zoning and housing implications of expanding allowable uses. Several members emphasized the city's housing goals and recommended limiting study to the existing General Business area along Highway 522 rather than expanding into EMU (Eastrail Mixed Use) zones. Presentation materials cited by council indicated an average dealership in Washington might see about $75 million in revenue annually, yielding roughly $700,000 a year in city sales tax if similar volumes were realized.
Council moved to add consideration of amending table 21.21.090 regarding outdoor motor vehicle/vessel sales, rental service and repair uses in the General Business zone to the Planning Commission’s 2026 work plan. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: The Planning Commission will review the proposed amendment, including potential conditions to limit where such uses could be established and to prevent encroachment into areas designated for future mixed‑use housing. Staff emphasized that any change would be zone‑wide rather than property‑specific and would likely include conditional use criteria.
Attribution: Statements by Todd Johnson are from public comment; staff and council statements are from the council meeting transcript.
