Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a study session on a tree code update

What the records say

The Bothell Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a study session on a tree code update at its April 1, 2026 hybrid meeting at Bothell City Hall, 18415 101st Avenue NE ¹. A study session is a working discussion, not a vote or public hearing; the memo states no action was required and staff were seeking initial feedback on the proposed scope of work and engagement approach ¹. The city's tree retention and landscaping code was originally adopted in 1996 and has not had a comprehensive update since; the update follows the Urban Forest Management Plan adopted February 10, 2026 ¹. Staff proposed a two-phase engagement process, with a scope-of-work presentation to City Council in April, an engagement summary to the Commission in June, and an initial draft code in July, followed by formal public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council ¹. Residents could submit written comments to imaginebothell@bothellwa.gov before 3 p.m. the day of the meeting or speak for up to three minutes during the public comment period ¹. The meeting was viewable on the city's YouTube channel, BCTV channels 21/26, and Zoom ¹.

• The Bothell Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a study session on a tree code update on April 1, 2026, at 6 p.m.
• No action was required; staff were seeking initial feedback on the proposed scope of work and engagement approach for updating a code last comprehensively updated in 1996.
• Staff proposed a two-phase engagement process, with an updated scope of work to City Council in April, an engagement summary in June, and an initial draft code in July, followed by public hearings.
• Written comments were due to imaginebothell@bothellwa.gov before 3 p.m. the day of the meeting; oral comments were limited to three minutes.
• A benchmarking attachment scored Bothell's tree ordinance at 16 of 26 components, the lowest among the compared Washington cities, lacking a heritage tree designation and a tree removal permit process.

Why it matters

Tree rules affect what property owners can cut, plant, or build around, and the review spans chapters governing tree retention, land clearing, critical areas, and utility-related trimming ¹. The benchmarking attachment found Bothell's code met 16 of 26 evaluated ordinance components — the lowest of the compared cities — with no heritage tree designation and no individual tree removal permit process ¹. Residents wanting to shape the update had an early window through the April 1 feedback session, with more formal comment opportunities at later hearings ¹. The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.

What changed / what's next

• No change was documented; the record shows a tree code update study session was scheduled for the April 1, 2026 Planning Commission meeting, with staff seeking feedback on scope and engagement only ¹.
• The initial draft of the tree code was projected for July 2026, with formal adoption hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council to follow; those records would show what was actually proposed and adopted ¹.