Bothell Council to weigh zoning changes to spur affordable housing

What the records say

In materials for the May 20, 2025 City Council meeting, staff sought Council feedback on housing affordability incentive concepts that could lead to future zoning-code changes ¹. The concepts respond to a March 2024 Council directive (Resolution 1473) to develop amendments that would produce dedicated affordable housing alongside market-rate housing ¹. No action was required; staff asked for direction only ¹. The agenda posed four questions: whether to refine existing affordability incentives, what the Council thinks of potential new incentives, what adjustments could be made, and whether any incentives are missing ¹. Staff had already presented the concepts to the Planning Commission on May 7, which responded positively overall but recommended dropping parking reductions from the incentive list and flagged complexity in the existing Multifamily Tax Exemption program ¹. The likely next step is future zoning-code amendments shaped by Council input, though the agenda specified no draft language or adoption timeline ¹.

• At the May 20, 2025 study session, staff sought Council input on housing affordability incentive concepts, with no action required ¹.
• The concepts respond to the Council's March 2024 directive (Resolution 1473) to develop potential zoning-code amendments producing dedicated affordable housing in tandem with market-rate housing ¹.
• Staff identified potential incentives including density flexibility, height increases, reduced parking, permit and impact fee reductions, permit expediting, and revisions to the Multifamily Tax Exemption program ¹.
• The Planning Commission, briefed May 7, responded positively but recommended dropping parking reductions and cited complexity and limited unit production under existing programs, particularly the MFTE ¹.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome ¹.

Why it matters

If eventually adopted, the changes could shape how new housing is built in Bothell — for example by requiring or encouraging dedicated affordable units in new projects, adjusting density, height, parking, or fees. The city's 2024 Comprehensive Plan targets 12,782 new housing units by 2044, with more than 75% needed at or below 80% of Area Median Income, and staff say current market-rate construction alone will not meet that need ¹. At this stage the record shows only a scheduled discussion; it does not establish what the Council said or decided ¹.

What changed / what's next

• Staff proposed a set of potential affordability incentives as an early step toward future zoning-code amendments under the Housing Action Plan ¹.
• The item was a study session, not a voting item, so the record does not establish any adopted change ¹.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome ¹.
• Council input from the session will inform the Housing Action Plan and future zoning-code amendments, though no draft language or adoption timeline appeared in the agenda ¹.