Shoreline Planning Commission Regular Meeting - January 16, 2025

The Shoreline Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Shoreline City Hall. The primary study item was a discussion on proposed amendments to the city's bicycle parking development code. Commissioners provided direction to staff on key policy questions, and the Director reported on recent Comprehensive Plan adoption, development code changes, and 2024 year-end statistics. The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was accepted as presented.
• The minutes of the November 21, 2024 public hearing were accepted as presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Stygstra, a Shoreline resident, encouraged the City to decouple bicycle parking requirements from vehicle parking requirements, stating that demand for bike parking is primarily determined by the quality of surrounding bike infrastructure, not by car parking ratios. He also urged the inclusion of design standards that accommodate non-traditional bikes such as trikes and cargo bikes, noting that many existing racks are unusable for a subset of users.

Discussion Items: Bicycle Parking Development Code Amendments

Senior Planner Alicia Halberg presented an overview of existing code requirements and the need for updates to align with the Climate Action Plan, Transportation Element, and feedback from users, staff, and developers. Proposed changes include decoupling bike parking from vehicle parking, prescribing rack types and spacing, and potentially requiring amenities like showers and lockers. The Commission discussed four specific questions:

1. How should the City approach bicycle parking rates (quantity of spaces required)?

   • Commissioners generally supported adopting an average rate rather than a leading-edge or below-average approach. Several noted that Shoreline's current bike commute mode share is low (around 1%) and predominantly recreational. Commissioner Fry pointed out that ridership is lower than in surrounding areas, so a leading-edge requirement would not make sense. Vice Chair Brinson agreed and emphasized that decoupling from vehicle parking was important, especially given unknowns about future ridership from light rail and new bike infrastructure. Commissioner Povick supported an average rate and recommended evaluating the types of bikes using facilities. Commissioner Lin noted the difficulty of biking in Shoreline due to topography and safety concerns, also favoring an average. Chair Mosier agreed, citing mostly recreational use.

2. Should the City consider a tiered approach requiring more bike parking in certain areas?

   • Opinions were mixed. Commissioner Cabe suggested a usage study to see if geographic patterns support a tiered approach. Commissioner Fry thought a tiered approach made sense conceptually but preferred keeping code simple. Vice Chair Brinson supported a tiered approach for short-term parking. Commissioner Lin argued for a citywide minimum without tiers to maintain simplicity, noting that developments near transit or light rail may already want to provide more parking. Commissioner Povick also supported a minimum rather than tiers. Chair Mosier favored a minimum tied to use rather than geography. Discussion also touched on whether small neighborhood commercial businesses should have lower requirements; some felt a bare minimum would not be burdensome, while others questioned requiring bike parking if vehicle parking minimums are removed. Commissioner Povick, who has a disability, expressed concern about being forced to provide bike parking at her own property when she cannot use it.

3. Should the City require employers to provide showers and personal lockers?

   • The majority opposed such a requirement. Commissioner Lin noted that Shoreline has very few large employers that would trigger the requirement, making it impractical. Commissioner Fry agreed, citing the goal of attracting businesses. Vice Chair Brinson said it is a nice benefit but not necessary to require. Commissioner Cabe felt that with extremely low bike commuting, these facilities would likely be wasted space and money. Commissioner Hadley noted that large employers already provide such amenities. Chair Mosier concurred with the group.

4. Should there be a priority order for where long-term bike parking is located (e.g., parking garages vs. amenity areas)?

   • Commissioners did not support a prescriptive location priority. Chair Mosier emphasized ease of access and security over specific location requirements. Commissioner Hadley stressed safety and accommodating diverse bike types. Commissioner Fry argued that the usability of the facility is more important than dictating its location within a building. The consensus was that staff should focus on functional design standards rather than a mandated hierarchy.

Director’s Report

• Comprehensive Plan Adoption: The City Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan on December 16, 2024, with several amendments, including a policy directing staff and the Planning Commission to develop code amendments within six months to eliminate parking minimums citywide. Other amendments explore incentives for three-bedroom units and first-time homebuyers, and a pre-approved ADU program.
• Development Code Update: The City Council also adopted development code amendments on January 13, 2025, affecting hardscape maximums (reduced to 50% in NR3 zone), tree retention (increased to 35%), fees for tree removal (trees 24 inches+), ADU density counting (ADUs count toward maximum density, size capped at 1,200 sq ft, with increased base density in NR3 from 2 to 3 units), and neighborhood commercial (size increased to 1,200 sq ft, up to 2,000 sq ft in existing buildings, and required street frontage).
• 2025 Work Plan: Includes parking code (bike and vehicle updates to be combined), 2025 Comprehensive Plan docket (to start at the next meeting), tree code update, critical areas code update, and general development code amendments. A dinner meeting with the City Council is scheduled for March 24, 2025.
• 2024 Year-End Statistics: The City recorded over 13,000 permit counter inquiries (54/day), 1,600 planner-of-the-day inquiries, 2,400 permits issued, and 1,100+ residential units finalized (of which 355 were affordable). Notable projects include the Fur Crest Nursing Facility (120 beds, first phase of 15-year master plan) and the reopening of 145th Street with one lane in each direction.

Key Outcomes

• Staff was directed to draft updated bicycle parking code amendments based on the Commission's guidance and bring a draft back for review at a future meeting.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for February 6, 2025, with the 2025 Comprehensive Plan docket on the agenda.
• Vice Chair Brinson requested that staff, when researching parking minimums in other cities, also ask how they handle accessible parking.