Bothell Planning Commission to hold public hearing on right-sizing bike parking code

What the records say

The Bothell Planning Commission's October 7, 2026 agenda includes a public hearing on a 'Bike Parking Regulations Update' ¹. The accompanying staff memo proposes amending BMC 12.16.035 and the downtown subarea parking sections to 'right-size' bike parking standards adopted in 2025, when the City Council repealed vehicle parking minimums and adopted initial citywide bicycle parking requirements via Ordinance 2461 ¹. Staff say the proposal lowers existing bike parking standards overall, expands requirements to more land uses, adds exemptions for uses like single-family homes, and adds new design, security, and management standards ¹. The memo asks the Commission to hold the hearing and consider approving findings, conclusions, and a recommendation to the City Council; no decision has been made because the meeting has not yet occurred ¹.

• The proposal would expand bike parking requirements to more uses — including dormitories, lodging, education, industrial, and health services — while eliminating an existing exemption for small buildings ¹.
• It would exempt single-unit housing (single-family homes and townhomes), motor-vehicle-focused uses, agriculture, utilities, golf courses, fire and police stations, and others, and allow reductions for permanent supportive, emergency, transitional, and senior housing ¹.
• New standards would require covered, secured long-term parking, at least one electrical outlet per 10 long-term spaces for e-bike charging, accommodation of cargo bikes and adaptive cycles, and a bicycle parking management plan ¹.
• After the Planning Commission hearing, the proposal is scheduled for a City Council public hearing on October 13, 2026, with Council consideration of adoption on October 20, 2026 ¹.

Why it matters

The rules set how much bicycle parking new and enlarged buildings, and changes of use, must provide across Bothell. If adopted as proposed, requirements would drop overall for many uses, more land uses would be covered, and racks would have to meet new accessibility, security, and e-bike charging standards — shaping what riders get at new projects and what developers must build ¹. Residents can submit written comments by email before 3:00 PM on the day of the meeting, or testify at the hearing ¹.

What changed / what's next

• The Planning Commission's October 7, 2026 agenda schedules a public hearing on proposed amendments to the city's bicycle parking requirements, with a staff recommendation to right-size the 2025 standards ¹.
• Whether the Planning Commission approves findings and a recommendation after the October 7 hearing, and the City Council public hearing on October 13, 2026, with adoption consideration October 20, 2026 ¹.