Planning Commission
Regular MeetingLynnwood, WA · January 9, 2026
Minutes
1 CITY OF LYNNWOOD
2 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
3 October 9, 2025 Meeting
4
5
6 Call to Order
7
8 The meeting was called to order by Chair Larsen at 6:30 p.m.
9
10 Land Acknowledgement
11
12 Chair Larsen read the land acknowledgement.
13
14 Roll Call
15
Commissioners Present: Staff Present:
Robert Larsen, Chair Karl Almgren, Community Planning Manager
Noel Baca Catherine Kato, Senior Planner
Kelly Betts David Mach, City Engineer
Dorina Katro Dylan Majewski, Civil Engineer
Zack Spencer, Planner
Absent:
Sue Phillips Other:
Patrick Robinson, 1st Vice Chair George Hurst, Council Liaison
Matt Cail Christine Frizzell, Mayor
16
17 Approval of Minutes
18 1. August 14, 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
19 2. September 11, 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
20
21 Motion made by Commissioner Betts, seconded by Commissioner Katro, to
22 approve the August 14, 2025 and September 11, 2025 Minutes as presented.
23 Motion passed unanimously.
24
25 Public Comments
26 No Public Comments.
27
28 Council Liaison Report
29
30 Councilmember Hurst had the following comments:
31 • Public Facilities District Development Agreement is to be presented at the
32 next City Council meeting.
33 • Council’s next meetings will focus on how to deal with the budget deficit.
34
35 Mayor Report
10/9/2025 Planning Commission Meeting
Page 1 of 4
1 Mayor Frizzell thanked the Planning Commissioners for their time, energy, and
2 experience to volunteer for Lynnwood.
3
4 Public Hearing
5
6 1. Comprehensive Plan Amendment List (PAL)
7
8 Senior Planner Kato presented the annual process to amend the Comprehensive
9 Plan. This process includes a call for amendments which can be both publicly- or
10 privately-initiated. The 2025 PAL includes two amendments including
11 Miscellaneous Amendments addressing text changes, references to the City
12 Center + Alderwood Subarea Plan, and an update to the annual demographics
13 cutsheet. The secondment amendment is to include the Capital Facilities Plan
14 (CFP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
15
16 No Public Comment.
17
18 No Commissioner questions.
19
20 Motion made by Commissioner Betts, seconded by Commissioner Katro, to
21 recommend approval of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment List. Motion
22 passed unanimously.
23
24 2. Unified Development Code Trailing Update 1
25
26 Planner Spencer provided a summary of the background of the Unified
27 Development Code (UDC) adoption and the proposal to address parking
28 requirements, minor revisions for clarity, and revisions to definitions. Community
29 Planning Manager Almgren provided additional background on flexibility
30 regarding the use of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) to replace
31 the minimum driveway length.
32
33 Commissioner Katro inquired about impact of site security impacts of the code
34 language.
35
36 Commissioner Baca provided feedback on concern of CC&R enforcement and
37 the minimum setback be set closer to 16-ft opposed to 0-ft.
38
39 No Public Comment.
40
41 Motion made by Commissioner Betts, seconded by Commissioner Katro, to
42 recommend approval as presented of the draft ordinance. Motion passed
43 unanimously.
44
45
10/9/2025 Planning Commission Meeting
Page 2 of 4
1 The CFP is a six year plan of anticipated Capital projects (all Capital projects
2 including Transportation Improvement Program, TIP) with estimated costs and
3 proposed methods of financing that is updated annually. The Washington State
4 Growth Management Act requires jurisdictions fully planning under the GMA to
5 include a CFP element in their comprehensive plans per RCW 36.70A.070(3).
6 The capital facilities element is required before a jurisdiction can impose GMA
7 impact fees. Other jurisdictions are required to have a capital facilities plan
8 before imposing certain taxes, such as the real estate excise tax and to qualify
9 for state funding for capital facilities
10
11 Other Business
12
13 1. 2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan/Transportation Improvement
14 Program
15
16 Civil Engineer Majewski and City Engineer Mach discussed the Capital Facilities
17 Plan and Transportation Improvement Program. The CFP is a six-year plan of
18 anticipated Capital projects (all Capital projects including Transportation
19 Improvement Program, TIP) with estimated costs and proposed methods of
20 financing that is updated annually. The Washington State Growth Management
21 Act requires jurisdictions fully planning under the GMA to include a CFP element
22 in their comprehensive plans per RCW 36.70A.070(3). The capital facilities
23 element is required before a jurisdiction can impose GMA impact fees. Other
24 jurisdictions are required to have a capital facilities plan before imposing certain
25 taxes, such as the real estate excise tax and to qualify for state funding for
26 capital facilities.
27
28 Chair Larsen inquired about school safety improvements. City Engineer Mach
29 clarified that this item is for all schools in Lynnwood. This project initially started
30 with residents new Lynndale and the access to the park and school in that area.
31 He continued to expand that the safety is not static and needs to be evaluated.
32
33 Commissioner Katro inquired about forecasting the costs of the program. City
34 Engineer Mach discussed that this is one of the tools that allows some budgeting
35 but is not solely the tool to do forecasting.
36
37 Motion made by Commissioner Betts, seconded by Commissioner Katro, to
38 recommend approval of the 2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan/Transportation
39 Improvement Program. Motion passed unanimously.
40
41 Planning Manager’s Report
42
43 Planning Manager Almgren had the following comments:
44 • Housing Hope held a groundbreaking for Scriber Place.
45 • Grand Opening of the Overlake MultiCare Facility for the Off-Campus
46 Emergency Departments.
10/9/2025 Planning Commission Meeting
Page 3 of 4
1 • Next week will be a small developer roundtable and critical areas update
2 from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lynnwood is currently going to
3 be late on the adoption of the CAO.
4 • Multifamily market is supporting additional investments and interests
5 because of the Big Beautiful Budget.
6 • Principal Planner Samy and Director Wolters are speaking at the
7 Washington APA Conference regarding Tax Increment Financing and
8 middle housing implementation.
9 • Predevelopment meeting demands have increased and seeing additional
10 permitting in the pipeline for 2026.
11
12 Commissioners' Comments
13 • None
14
15 Adjournment
16
17 The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
18
19
20
21 __________________________
22 Robert Larsen, Chair
10/9/2025 Planning Commission Meeting
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Agenda
LYNNWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION - regular Planning
Commission meeting
Online via Zoom
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2025 6:30 PM
1. Call to Order - Roll Call
2. Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the City of Lynnwood is located on the traditional lands of the
Snohomish Tribe and the confederation of Tulalip Tribes and their families. For
generations, these Indigenous communities have lived on this land, and we recognize,
support, and advocate alongside them.
We also acknowledge the forced removal of Indigenous communities from their
Homelands as a result of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott. We understand that Land
Acknowledgements are only the first step in our efforts to support Coast Salish tribes
and educate non-Natives about their lived history. We strive to achieve this through
building relationships with Indigenous communities, supporting Indigenous commerce,
government-to-government partnerships, and lifting indigenous voices to create equity
for all.
Through these actions, we hope to not only pay respect to the past but also collaborate
in creating a sustainable future, hand in hand with the first protectors of our shared
environment.
3. Approval of Minutes
3.A Minutes: August 14, 2025 and September 11, 2025 - 5 minutes
4. Public Comments
Members of the public may make comments to the Planning Commission for up to five (5)
minutes on matters related to the Planning Commission on matters not scheduled for a public
hearing on tonight's agenda. Public hearing items have dedicated time for public comment.
5. Council Liaison Report
6. Public Hearings
6.A Public Hearing: 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment List (PAL) - 15 minutes
10/09/2025
1
Catherine Kato, Senior Planner
6.B Public Hearing: 2025 Miscellaneous Code Update (REVISED) - 20 minutes
Zack Spencer, Planner
7. Other Business
7.A 2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan/Transportation Improvement Program - 30
minutes
David Mach, City Engineer and Dylan Majewski, Civil Engineer
8. Planning Manager’s Report
A verbal report will be provided at the meeting.
9. Commissioner’s Comments
Adjournment
The public is invited to attend and participate in this public meeting. Parking and meeting rooms are accessible
to persons with disabilities. Upon reasonable notice to the City Clerk’s office (425) 670-5161, the City will make
reasonable effort to accommodate those who need special assist
Zoom Instructions
How the Meeting Will Work
Planning Commission meetings are held at Lynnwood Council Chambers and online through
Zoom in a hybrid format. The Lynnwood Planning Commission are the Panelists, and
Lynnwood residents and members of the public – as well as City staff or guest presenters –
are attendees. Webinar attendees do not interact with one another; they join in listen-only
mode, and the host can unmute one or more attendees as needed.
Meeting Links and Numbers
Please click this URL to join: https://lynnwoodwa.zoom.us/j/85942886063
Webinar ID: 859 4288 6063
Or join by phone: 253-215-8782
Written Public Comment:
Development & Business Services Department accepts public comments on behalf of the via
emails sent to planning@lynnwoodwa.gov. Staff representatives will provide the email to the
Planning Commission, and summarize the content verbally at the meeting.
Live Public Comment:
Members of the public are welcome to join the meeting in person or on the webinar as an
attendee. During the scheduled public comment, the Chairperson will ask those wishing to
speak to use the “Raise Hand” function and will be called upon. The host will unmute your mic
and you will have the ability to share your comment. Each speaker is allowed up to five (5)
minutes.
10/09/2025
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