Development Services mid-year report was scheduled as a staff briefing at the Sept. 1 council meeting

What the records say

The City Council agenda for its Sept. 1, 2026 meeting scheduled a staff briefing titled "Development Activity Update," paired with a Development Services Mid-year Report attachment spanning pages 11 through 46 of the packet ¹. The briefing, presented by Deputy Community Development Director Christian Geitz, was structured as an informational presentation with no action required ¹.

The report itself was included in the packet. It states that 126 residential units have been completed so far in 2026, and that only the 76 units in the SAMMA Senior apartments count toward the city's 2044 affordability targets, described as the first income-restricted units completed in many years ¹. The city's long-term housing target is 12,782 units ¹.

On pipeline activity, the report says pre-application residential concepts totaled just under 1,000 proposed units in 2026, continuing the intensity of 2025's more than 1,000, though staff emphasize these are concept plans, some of which become dormant ¹. Permit figures show 2026 running at just over 50% of the five-year average for total permits issued, dwelling units issued, and inspections completed through July, while the valuation of permits applied ($110M) exceeded the five-year average ($233M is the five-year average; 2025 was $128M) ¹. The report attributes the strong applied-valuation figure primarily to mid-to-large residential projects ¹.

The same agenda block also listed a budget status briefing and recognition of a 2025 WSDOT/FHWA award for the North Creek Trail; this story covers only the development activity item ¹. The supplied records are pre-meeting materials and do not establish whether the briefing occurred as scheduled or what was said.

• The Sept. 1, 2026 City Council agenda scheduled a "Development Activity Update" staff briefing under the City Manager Report & Presentations item, with the Development Services Mid-year Report attached at pages 11–46.
• The report states 126 residential units were completed so far in 2026, with only the 76 SAMMA Senior apartment units counting toward the city's 2044 affordability targets; the long-term housing target is 12,782 units.
• Pre-application residential proposals totaled just under 1,000 units in 2026, following more than 1,000 in 2025; staff note these are concept plans and some become dormant.
• Through July 2026, total permits issued, dwelling units issued, and inspections were each at just over 50% of the five-year average, while the valuation of permits applied ($110M) was strong, which the report attributes primarily to mid-to-large residential projects.
• Staff said they will return in early 2027 with a more detailed annual report covering the full 2026 year.

Why it matters

The report gives residents a mid-year snapshot of Bothell's growth: how fast housing is being completed, how much of it is affordable, and what is in the development pipeline. The gap it highlights — 126 units completed but only 76 income-restricted ones against a 12,782-unit long-term target — is the kind of figure residents tracking housing affordability and neighborhood change can use to judge whether city incentives are producing affordable homes ¹.

What changed / what's next

• The Sept. 1, 2026 agenda packet added a Development Activity Update staff briefing with a Development Services Mid-year Report covering year-to-date permitting, housing completions, affordability tracking, and project highlights ¹.
• The report flags that most current construction is market-rate, typically priced above 80% Area Median Income, and does not meaningfully qualify toward the city's 2044 affordability targets; staff say they look forward to more use of affordable housing incentives and regional funding ¹.
• Staff anticipate additional residential project submissions taking advantage of increased residential densities adopted in the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update and associated code changes ¹.
• The supplied records are pre-meeting materials and do not establish the Sept. 1 meeting's outcome.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.