Edmonds Planning Board Regular Meeting – August 13, 2026

The Edmonds Planning Board held a regular hybrid meeting on August 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Brackett Room of City Hall. The board addressed unfinished business regarding zoning for the Westgate Neighborhood Center, received an informational update on state legislative changes and the Unified Development Code (UDC) program, and considered permanent regulations for family burial grounds. The meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The draft minutes from the August 5, 2026 special meeting were approved with a friendly amendment to include more discussion detail. The motion passed with Stephen Lee and John Milton abstaining.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public attended in person or online to provide testimony. One online attendee (John Milton) joined late and did not speak; he later announced his abstention on the minutes vote.

Discussion Items

• Westgate Neighborhood Center Zoning Map (Second Reading): Staff presented four parcels (including Taco Bell and other businesses) that were temporarily zoned BP after a discrepancy between the comprehensive plan map and previous WMU zoning. Staff recommended designating them as NCH (Neighborhood Center High) to maintain consistent streetscape and design standards. Key differences: NCH allows 30-foot building heights (vs. 25 feet for BP), includes better public realm standards, and limits height near LDR zones. Board members expressed support for NCH, citing better urban design and compatibility with adjacent NCH areas. A motion by Nick Maxwell, seconded by Stephen Lee, to designate the four parcels as NCH passed unanimously. A subsequent motion by John Milke, seconded by Lee Hankins, to extend the ground floor commercial requirement along Edmonds Way for the newly designated NCH zone (from the existing limit to near 102nd Place West) passed 5–1, with Nick Maxwell voting no.
• 2025–2026 Washington State Legislative Updates and UDC Program: Senior Planner Andy Arts presented an overview of 13 new RCWs and bills requiring code updates by 2027–2028. Key topics included lot splits (HB 1096), housing accountability (SB 5148), transit-oriented development (HB 1491), step housing, religious affordable housing (HB 1859), child care center siting, parking minimum reductions (SB 1626), and side modulation/setback updates. Staff proposed packaging most updates into an omnibus ordinance in early 2027, with separate work on middle housing and parking later. The board also discussed the UDC framework, which aims to restructure the city’s use-based zoning code into a more unified, form-based system. No action was taken; the presentation was informational.
• Family Burial Grounds Permanent Regulations (First Reading): Staff reviewed Substitute House Bill 2239, which allows family burial grounds on private property subject to specific standards (≤10% of parcel, ≥25 ft from boundaries, ≥150 ft from critical areas, etc.). Council previously adopted an interim ordinance prohibiting such burials. The policy question before the board was whether to recommend a permanent prohibition or allow regulated burial grounds. Board members expressed strong opposition, citing conflicts with urban development, property turnover issues, groundwater contamination risks, and the “creepy” nature of tombs in residential backyards. A motion by Lee Hankins, seconded by Nick Maxwell, to recommend a permanent prohibition on family burial grounds passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes: Approved with amendments (5 ayes, 2 abstentions).
• Westgate Zoning: Board recommended designating four parcels from temporary BP to permanent NCH (unanimous).
• Ground Floor Commercial: Board recommended extending the ground floor commercial requirement along Edmonds Way for the newly rezoned NCH area (5–1).
• Family Burial Grounds: Board recommended a permanent prohibition (unanimous).
• Next Steps: The Westgate zoning recommendation will be packaged with the upcoming CIP/CFP docket for a public hearing in September. Staff will bring forward a formal ordinance for family burial grounds prohibition to council. The board will begin detailed work on lot splits and UDC framework later this year.

Planning Board Chair Comments

• Chair noted the tree code presentation to council the previous evening was not accompanied by planning board members, which may have caused confusion. The city administrator and clerk are developing a policy for future joint meetings between council and planning board.