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Planning commission recommends city council approve zoning map refinements
Summary
The City of Bothell Planning Commission voted unanimously May 20 to recommend council approve map corrections staff said are routine cleanups arising from the 2024 comp‑plan update. Staff emphasized the changes preserve previously intended zones; council hearings are scheduled June 2 (hearing) and June 16 (final consideration).
The City of Bothell Planning Commission voted May 20 to recommend that the City Council adopt a package of zoning map refinements intended to correct inconsistencies left after the city’s 2024 comprehensive plan update. Eric Chazewski, a long‑range planner in the Community Development Department, told the commission the edits cover seven general locations where mixed‑use overlays were not accompanied by the implementing zones at the parcel level.
"Given that this is a routine cleanup item with no substantive changes, staff recommends planning commission approves the findings, conclusions, and recommendations before you today," Chazewski said. Staff described examples where the mixed‑use neighborhood overlay (MUN) lacked the accompanying residential or neighborhood‑business zones needed to implement plan intent.
Commissioners pressed staff on specific areas, including three parcels near the Brickyard/Norway Hill where the proposal would apply residential RM4 or other missing zone designations to match adjacent zoning and avoid split zoning on individual parcels. Commissioner Sarah Gustafson asked whether recently annexed areas might explain the inconsistencies; staff replied they generally reflect omissions in the 2024 implementation and that the refinements restore the original policy intent.
Commissioner Lever asked whether the changes could open the door to large industrial uses such as data centers; Deputy Director Gates Getz and staff said the proposal is a technical correction and that Bothell’s code does not include a dedicated "data center" use listing. "Neighborhood business scale is smaller—small stores, offices, not industrial size facilities," staff said.
Commissioner Lever moved to approve the staff recommendations as written; Commissioner Morales seconded. The chair called for the vote and the motion carried by voice vote with all commissioners present saying "aye." Staff will forward the recommendation to City Council for a hearing on June 2 and final consideration June 16.
