Shoreline Planning Commission end of year report to City Council

2017 Planning Commission
Pictured front row, from left: David Maul, Donna Thomas, Susan Chang;
Back row, from left: Vice Chair William Montero, Chair Easton Craft, Laura Mork, Jack Malek.

Report from the Planning Commission to Shoreline City Council

Since our last annual report to Council in November 2016, the Planning Commission has reviewed and advised the Council on several projects of note.

In terms of membership, Susan Chang will depart the Commission as she joins the Council starting in January 2018. Donna Moss-Thomas, a valued planning commissioner, will complete eight years of service to the City of Shoreline with her term ending March 2018. Two other Commissioners, Jack Malek and Laura Mork, may be re-appointment for second terms in March of 2018. Both Jack and Laura have submitted applications for your consideration. (See previous article Openings on Planning Commission)

The Commission spent the better part of 2017 studying and evaluating the 2017 Comprehensive Plan amendments and the 2017 Batch of Development Code amendments.

• Comprehensive Plan Amendments – Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan; Master Street Plan as it relates to the 185th Street Station Subarea Plan; incorporating Ronald Wastewater into the Comprehensive Plan; and incorporating the Shoreline Fire District’s Capital Facilities and Equipment Plan into the City’s Capital Facilities Element. The Comprehensive Plan amendments were adopted by Council on November 14, 2017. 

• Development Code Amendments – The 2017 Batch of Development Code amendments included 41 administrative, clarifying, and policy amendments. Council will consider the batch of amendments at their January 22 and February 26 meetings. 

• Deep Green Incentive Program – These Development Code amendments incentivize the most comprehensive green building programs and implement the City’s Sustainability Strategy and Climate Action Plan. These amendments were adopted by Council on April 17, 2017. 

The Commission is looking forward to working with staff in 2018 on the following projects:

• Annual Comprehensive Plan Docket
• Annual Batch of Development Code Amendments
• Vegetation Management Plan
• Subdivision Development Code Update
• Community Residential Facilities Development Code Amendment
• Mandatory Green Building Requirements for all Commercial Structures
• Shoreline Master Program Update 

The Commission is also interested in pursuing the following topics assuming staff has the availability on their work plan:

• Update Single-Family Attached Design Regulations
• Housing Choice in Single-Family Zones