This week the Bothell City Council unanimously adopted two high priority MBAKS ordinances. Short plat thresholds were increased from 4 to 9 units and duplexes will now be allowed on all corner lots in residential zones.

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, the Bellevue City Council unanimously adopted two land use code amendments (LUCA) that are priority legislation for MBAKS. The LUCAs enable fee simple ownership of townhomes and remove the three-year wait restriction for attached accessory dwelling units.

This week, the Lake Stevens City Council held a workshop to discuss the city’s proposed SEPA exemptions for minor construction. The Planning Commission has held three work sessions to discuss the proposed amendments and has agreed to increase the exemption thresholds.

A recording of the City of Seattle’s Stormwater Code/Manual Update Public Meeting held on Thursday, January 28, 2021 is now available. This meeting highlighted changes in the draft 2021 Stormwater Code and Manual.

On Monday, January 25, the Tukwila City Council approved amendments to Tukwila Municipal Code Title 17, Subdivisions and Plats, and Title 18, Zoning.

On Monday, January 29, the Shoreline City Council voted unanimously to adopt an amendment to the 2018 Building Code update to require fire sprinklers in all new single family, duplex and detached ADU construction.

On October 2, 2018, we took to social media to discuss the benefits of more flexible accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules and various cottage housing ordinances throughout our two-county region.

Snohomish County Planning and Development Services has released its annual tree canopy report. The 2020 report details that every proposed landscape plan submitted during the year met or exceeded canopy requirements.

The WRIA 8 and WRIA 9 Restoration and Enhancement Committees, which develop or update plans that offset potential impacts to instream flows associated with new permit exempt (PE) domestic water use, have reached interim agreement on the final draft watershed plans. The plans have been distributed to committee members for internal review and approval. The final votes to approve the plans by full Committee are scheduled for Feb. 23.

Recently, the Washington State Department of Ecology released the final draft WRIA 7 Water Restoration and Enhancement Committee (WREC) watershed plan. After reviewing comments and making some final recommendations, the committee voted on and unanimously gave interim approval of the plan. The WREC will now start the local approval process.

The draft update of the Snohomish County’s Countywide Planning Policies were presented to the Snohomish County Planning Advisory Committee (SCT-PAC) this week and are now available.

Snohomish County Planning and Development Services has released its annual work plan and presented it to the County Council. The document is a road map for various code changes being worked on for the year, including your Association’s priorities.

After two years of work, the King County Council approved North Bend’s Water System Plan (WSP) by a vote of 7-2. The WSP will next be introduced to City Council as it moves simultaneously to DOH. MBAKS is working with the City to work the plan through final approval.

Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) has released its summary 2020 permit activity data.