HomeMy WebLinkAboutMCA 26-0180 CC PresentationMCA 26-0180: Municipal Code
Amendment
City Council First Reading:GMA &
Comprehensive Plan
Presenter: Angel Torres
Long Range & Special Projects Administrator
Planning Division
Department of Community and Economic Development
City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026 1
City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Purpose and Scope of MCA 26-0180
Overview
Citywide development
code amendment.
Aligns City code with
State Law.
Associated updates
address development
standards.
Affected Titles
●Title 14
Buildings & Construction
●Title 17
Zoning
●Title 18
Growth Management
Primary Subjects
●Housing and Parking
●Childcare
●Commercial to
Residential Retrofit
●Essential public
facilities
●Permit procedures
●Comprehensive Plan
amendment
procedures
2
State Requirements Address:
Key Legislative Drivers
●ESHB 2266:Transitional housing
and Permanent Supportive Housing
●2SHB 1859:Affordable Housing on
Religious Organization Property
●ESSB 5509:Childcare Centers
●E2SHB 2418:Project Permit
Timelines and Completeness
Review
Additional RCW Provisions Address:
●Parking
●Residential Building Retrofits
●Solar Panels
●Passive-house Standards
●Design Standards
●Essential Public Facilities (Chapter 17.09)
●Emergency Comprehensive Plan
Amendments
3City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Procedure
Expedited 60-day notice submitted to the Department of Commerce
Planning Commission Public Hearing
Written comment period closed
August 18, 2026 Council Public Hearing & Request to Adopt Ordinance
August 4, 2026 Department of Commerce comments received
July 10, 2026
July 11, 2026 Public notice issued
July 22, 2026
July 24, 2026
4City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Title 14: Off-Street Parking & Exemptions
State-Required Parking Changes per RCW 36.70A.622 and 817
●Off-street parking exemptions
●Tandem and grass-block paver allowances
●Garage, carport, and 8-by-20-foot space standards
●Existing gravel and nonconforming parking credit
5City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
State Required:
●Density Bonuses Required (RCW 35A.21.440 & 990, RCW 19.27.270).
●Existing-building Density Allowance of 50% (RCW 35A.21.440 & 990, RCW
19.27.270).
●Childcare and Essential Public-Facility Updates (RCW 36.70A.450, ESSB 5509,
RCW 36.70A.200).
●Retrofit and Building-envelope Updates (RCW 35A.21.440 & 990).
6City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Title 17: Definitions & State Required Updates
Requirements & Implementation
Title 17: Definitions & State Required Updates
Commission Recommendation and Comprehensive Plan
Implementation:
●Allow Single-Family Dwellings in Medium and High Density Residential
and all Commercial Zones.
●Except in the Central Business District, with Appropriate Lot Size
Maximums.
6City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Residential Zone Updates:
State-Required Updates
•Transitional and supportive housing
(RCW 35A.21.430 & 683)
•Density allowances for religious
organizations (RCW 36.70A.545)
•Family daycare & childcare centers
(RCW 36.70A.450 and ESSB 5509)
•Residential retrofits
(RCW 35A.21.440 & 990)
•Essential public facilities (RCW 36.70A.200)
•Insulation and solar accommodations
(RCW 36.70A.810 & 812)
Commission and Public-Review Changes
•Duplexes permitted in R11
•Density bonus expanded to qualifying
nonprofits
•Broader than the religious-property statute
•Changes incorporated into the Council draft
7City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Commercial, Industrial & Conversion Standards
State-Required: Existing Buildings
●Chapter 17.16.
●Units remain within the existing building envelope.
State-Required: Commercial Zones
●Ground-floor commercial requirements continue.
●State setback and design exemptions apply.
●Residential and commercial childcare allowances.
●PC recommendation: industrial childcare tied to a primary use.
8City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Permit Administration & Hearing Roles
Chapter 18.02 —State Permit Review Requirements
(RCW 36.70A.470 and RCW 36.70B)
●Defines development regulations and completeness review.
●Separates procedural completeness from technical review.
Chapters 17.96 and 18.02 —Comprehensive Plan-Directed Hearing Roles
●Planning Commission holds the hearing; Council decides.
Chapter 18.04 —State-Authorized Comprehensive Plan Amendment Pathway
●Allows emergency or appeal-related Plan amendments outside the annual cycle.
9City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Findings of Fact and Staff Analysis
Comprehensive Plan
Growth Management:
Supports periodic code review
(Policy LU-7.2).
Housing Quality:
Supports adopted housing-
quality policy (H-3.7).
Efficient Permitting:
Supports fair and predictable
permit review (LU-7.5).
Housing Action Plan (HAP)
Task 4 Alignment:
Supports transitional
and supportive housing
options.
Task 7 Support:
Supports housing
preservation and
affordability.
Climate Resiliency (CRP)
Community Resilience:
Supports housing needs
across community
demographics.
Efficient Housing:
Supports reuse and
energy-related code
accommodations.
Environmental Review: SEPA-exempt under RCW 43.21C.450(1).
10City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
What Changed and Why
State-Required Changes
•Housing allowances
•50% retrofit density
•Parking standards
•Childcare
•Building
accommodations
•Essential public facilities
•Permit timelines
Commission and Public-
Review Changes
•R11 duplexes
•Industrial childcare
•Commercial lot sizes
•Nonprofit eligibility
•30-foot R11 height
•Existing PRDs
unaffected
Local Implementation
•Definitions
•Cross-references
•Dimensional notes
•Hearing procedures
•Code placement
•Comprehensive Plan
pathway
11City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026
Staff Recommendation
1)Open the public hearing;
2)Close the public hearing;
3)Conduct the first reading;
4)Waive the second reading;
5)Adopt the ordinance.
12City Council Meeting -August 18, 2026