Want to learn more about — or provide feedback on — the City of Edmonds draft development code updates focused on middle housing and Neighborhood Centers and Hubs? The City of Edmonds is hosting an open house from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1 in the Brackett Room, third floor of Edmonds City Hall, 21 5th Ave. N.
Middle housing refers to housing types such as duplexes, triplexes and cottage homes. Under state law, cities such as Edmonds must allow at least two housing units per lot in residential zones and six types of middle housing. Near major transit stops and where certain 50-year affordability requirements are met, four housing units per lot must be allowed. A code to provide for this must be adopted by June 30.
Click here to view the project webpage for more information on middle housing
Proposed updates to the interim ordinance for Neighborhood Centers and Hubs (NCH) aim to foster more walkable, livable, and inclusive neighborhoods, the city said in an announcement. The NCH code supports a mix of uses including small-scale commercial and multifamily residential. These areas, designated in Edmonds’ 2024 Comprehensive Plan, are Westgate, Five Corners, Firdale, Medical Expansion District, North Bowl, East Seaview, West Edmonds Way and South Ballinger.
Click here to view the project webpage fore more information on Neighborhood Centers and Hubs
At the open house, attendees will find maps, informational displays and a short presentation at 6:30 p.m. City planning staff will be available to answer questions, explain the proposed updates and gather community feedback. Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, developer, or just curious about what’s happening in your neighborhood, this event offers a great opportunity to get involved, the city said.
If you can’t make it in person, all open house materials will be available online after the event. Visit www.edmondswa.gov/2025codeupdates and click on the “Community Engagement” link to access the resources.
For more information, visit www.edmondswa.gov/2025codeupdates. For questions, contact Navyusha Pentakota or Brad Shipley at 425-771-0220 or via email at 2025codeupdates@edmondswa.gov.
Could someone explain to me, please, what “certain 50 year affordability requirements are met” means- as it pertains to having a four units on a lot? What qualifies as a major transit stop? More than one bus stopping there? Thank you if anyone knows
“Major transit stop” means:
(a) A stop on a high capacity transportation system funded or expanded under the provisions of chapter
81.104 RCW;
(b) Commuter rail stops;
(c) Stops on rail or fixed guideway systems; or
(d) Stops on bus rapid transit routes (BRT on 99), including those stops that are under construction.
D. To qualify for additional units under the affordable housing provisions, an applicant shall commit to renting or selling the required number of units as affordable housing and meeting the standards of subsections (E) through (I) below.
E. Dwelling units that qualify as affordable housing shall have costs, including utilities other than telephone, that do not exceed 30 percent of the monthly income of a household whose income does not exceed the following percentages of median household income adjusted for household size, for the county where the household is located, as reported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development:
1. Rental housing: 60 percent.
2. Owner-occupied housing: 80 percent.
F. The units shall be maintained as affordable for a term of at least 50 years, and the property shall satisfy that commitment and all required affordability and income eligibility conditions.
G. The applicant shall record a covenant or deed restriction that ensures the continuing rental or ownership of units subject to these affordability requirements consistent with the conditions in chapter 84.14 RCW for a period of no less than 50 years.
Insufficient space for the remaining criteria. Please see Middle Housing User Guide and the Dept of Commerce website. Hope this helps…
Thank you
Can we ensure, building codes restrict big ugly box construction? The West Coast needs some character too. Talk to the architectures of the new Aegis living Greenwood building, now that’s character!
https://www.aegisliving.com/locations/aegis-living-greenwood-seattle-wa/
Design codes now need to be “clear and objective,” so we can’t say things like: “Buildings should have a character,” because different people could disagree on what character is. Instead the Planning Department has been putting together Design Guidelines that will hopefully result in character, you can see what types of things in the “Design Review” portion of the 4/23 Planning Board Agenda https://edmondswa.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=4029&Inline=True
Lauren, if it wasn’t for the Architectural Design Board, (ADB), we would have square boxes throughout Edmonds. Staff mainly reviews applications to see if they comply with city codes with minimal design changes. The ADB changed many projects based on our current design standards. The revamped “clear and objective” design standards will help streamline projects and hopefully, prevent personal interpretation; however, please know that the direction is to eliminate citizen involvement (ADB). This means only staff and developers will be making decisions on the future look of Edmonds. We can easily experience the visual blight of Ballard, Shoreline as most developers, I’ve experienced, seek lower cost designs. We need citizen involvement on our city design beyond staff and developers but city council put the Architectural Design Board on hiatus.