Bothell Sound

Development · Apr 8, 2025

Bothell City Council to consider Phase 2 code updates on growth rules and parking minimums

Bothell City Council was scheduled to weigh draft Phase 2 code updates affecting residential and commercial growth rules and parking minimums at an April 8, 2025 study session. 1

What the records say

In materials published ahead of the April 8, 2025 meeting, the City Council was scheduled to hold a study session on the Phase 2 Comprehensive Plan Code Updates (agenda bill 25-067). Staff prepared an overview following the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update to get Council feedback on initial draft material and Planning Commission direction. The agenda recommended no action, so the session was set up for discussion and direction rather than a vote. 1

  • The City Council was scheduled to hear an overview of the Phase 2 Comprehensive Plan Code Updates at an April 8, 2025 study session, following the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update. 1
  • The agenda recommended no action, meaning the session was for Council feedback on initial draft material and Planning Commission direction, not a vote. 1
  • Staff asked whether the draft recommendations reflect Council priorities for residential and commercial code updates to increase growth opportunities. 1
  • The record raised whether Bothell should further reduce or possibly eliminate parking minimums, prompted by Senate Bill 5184 being considered at the state level. 1
  • Draft material covers Neighborhood Scale Commercial topics including definition, intent, scale, hours, and permitted uses. 1

Why it matters

These code updates are the city-level rules that shape where and how much residential and commercial building can happen in Bothell, and the record explicitly asks whether further reducing or possibly eliminating parking minimums should be considered. That question can change what developers are required to build, including how much on-site parking new housing or businesses must provide. The records so far only preview the discussion; they do not establish what the Council decided. 1

What changed / what's next

  • The Phase 2 code updates under consideration would revise residential and commercial growth rules following the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update. 1
  • The record raised the possibility of further reducing or eliminating Bothell's parking minimums, using Senate Bill 5184 as a prompt. 1
  • The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome; the study session recommended no action and was for Council feedback only. 1
  • Whether the City Council directs further changes on parking minimums or on any Neighborhood Scale Commercial topics as the document moves toward completion. 1