The Shoreline Planning Commission met on December 17, 2020, at 3:00 PM to conduct a public hearing on the Community Renewal Area (CRA) sign code update and to discuss the Housing Action Plan follow-up. The commission voted unanimously to approve the sign code update as recommended by staff, forwarding it to the city council for consideration in the first quarter of 2021. The study session on the Housing Action Plan included additional research on short-term rentals, displacement concerns, and affordable housing strategies. Consent Calendar - Approval of the agenda as presented. - Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting. Public Comments & Testimony - No general public comments were made. - No public testimony was offered during the public hearing on the CRA sign code update. Discussion Items - Community Renewal Area Sign Code Update: Staff presented a summary of prior discussions and proposed changes. Key elements included: - Monument signs: number based on street frontage length (1, 2, or 3 signs per parcel). - Spacing: at least 100 feet apart on the same property, 50 feet from adjacent property signs. - Pylon signs: maximum height of 35 feet, retaining the existing four signs (two per large parcel). - Wall signs: incentives for public entrances and design features on blank walls. - Brand identity: tenants may use characteristic fonts in a common color, with center identity emphasized. - Existing signs fully amortized, so removal can be required without compensation. - Commissioners clarified that the Merlong 10-acre parcel could accommodate two pylon signs spaced 100 feet apart, and existing signs were already compliant. - Housing Action Plan Follow-up: Staff reported on short-term rentals: 170 units citywide (less than 1% of 23,000 housing units), down 24% from a peak of 217 in Q3 2018. Commissioners discussed: - Concerns about displacement and lack of regulation for short-term rentals. - Potential actions: enforcement of business license requirements, state registration (HB 1798), and public outreach. - Commissioner Callahan emphasized the risk of increased short-term rentals leading to housing loss. - Commissioner Mallow noted short-term rentals serve purposes like remodeling and exploring the area, and suggested hearing from Economic Development Manager Nate Daum. - Commissioner Galusca raised the need for multi-bedroom rental units (beyond studios and one-bedrooms) and the gap between median income ($113,000) and minimum wage ($12/hour). - Commissioner Wamashonge advocated for public-private partnerships to fund affordable housing targeting 0–30% area median income (AMI). - Staff noted that the housing element will be updated after regional policy guidance and that an issue paper on 185th Street station area development is forthcoming. Key Outcomes - Motion to approve the CRA sign code update as written in staff report attachment A (moved by Commissioner Wamashonge, seconded by Commissioner Callahan). The motion passed unanimously. - The recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for consideration in the first quarter of 2021. - The next Planning Commission meeting on January 7, 2021, is canceled. The next meeting will be January 21, 2021, for further Housing Action Plan discussion and prioritization of toolkit items. - The commission noted ongoing litigation on the BSRE project (Boeing/Shoreline Redevelopment), awaiting a decision from the Snohomish County hearing examiner.
