Middle Housing Development Regulation Amendments

ADOPTED LAKE FOREST PARK MUNICIPAL CODE (LFPMC) AMENDMENTS

The City Council adopted two ordinances related to the Middle Housing, Accessory Dwelling Unit, and Unit Lot Subdivision code amendments to the LFPMC at their regular meeting of June 26, 2025.  Upon publication of the ordinances by the City Clerk in early July 2025, the amendments will go into effect and become codified into the online version of the LFPMC.  Until codification is completed, please see the two adopted ordinances below:

Ordinance 25-1310 Middel Housing and ADU Code Amendments

Ordinance 25-1309 Unit Lot Subdivision Code Amendments

WA State Dept of Commerce Acknowledgement Closure Letter

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The required noticed public hearing at the City Council has occurred and the Council will hold a Special Meeting at 6pm on Monday, June 16, 2025, to discuss the proposed amendments to the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code for Middle Housing, Accessory Dwelling Units, and Unit Lot Subdivision to meet base guidance for recent State legislation.  It is anticipated that the Council could take action on proposed ordinance 25-1309 and 25-1310 at a regular meeting at 7pm on Thursday, June 26, 2025.  Public comment and in-person attendance remains encouraged.  Please see the links below for review materials and the ordinances/attachments. 


Draft Ordinance 25-1309 Unit Lot Subdivision

Ex A to Ordinance 25-1309 Unit Lot Subdivision

Draft Ordinance 25-1310 Middle Housing and ADU Amendments

Ex A Ordinance 25-1310 Middle Housing and ADU Amendments

Ex B Ordinance 25-1310 MH and ADU Amendments


Notice of Public Hearing

LAKE FOREST PARK CITY COUNCIL

Draft Code Amendments Pertaining to Middle Housing &

Accessory Dwelling Unit Legislative Mandates

Over the past year, the City of Lake Forest Park Planning Commission reviewed amendments to the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code (LFPMC) pertaining to the middle housing and accessory dwelling unit legislation and made a formal recommendation to the City Council. The City Council is currently reviewing, discussing, and considering the amendments.  Prior to any city action on the amendments, an additional noticed public hearing will seek additional feedback on those amendments that are intended to govern middle housing types required for a Tier 3 city and accessory dwelling units within the city.  The public hearing will be conducted during the City Council's regular meeting on Thursday, June 12, 2025.  The meeting will begin at 7:00 P.M. and the public hearing will commence shortly thereafter and be held in the Council Chambers upstairs at the Lake Forest Park City Hall located at 17425 Ballinger Way NE in Lake Forest Park.   Written and verbal testimony will be accepted during the public hearing.

The public hearing is intended primarily to provide an opportunity for public testimony regarding draft code amendments and potential alternatives regarding the following topics, including but not limited to:


LFPMC 17.04.050 Definitions

LFPMC 17.12 Short Subdivisions and Dedications

LPFMC 18.08 Definitions 

LPFMC 18.12 Zoning Map

LPFMC 18.16  RS-20 Single Family, Residential Low 

LPFMC 18.18 RS-15 Single Family Residential, Moderate

LPFMC 18.45 SG-SFR Southern Gateway Residential 

LPFMC 18.50.050 Accessory Dwelling Units

LFPMC 18.58.030 Parking spaces required

LFPMC 18.62.080 Landscape Types

Public Hearing Documents

  1. Middle Housing Code Amends Notice of Public Hearing CC 06122025
  2. Middle Housing and ADU Code Amendments redline with strikeout underline version for June 9 2025 City Council
  3. SCJ Technical Memo to CC for June 9 2025 re MH and ADU Code Amends
  4. Draft Ordinance 1310 Title 18 Middle Housing and ADUs
  5. Ex. A Title 18 Middle Housing and ADU Ord
  6. Draft Ordinance 25-1309 Title 17 Unit Lot Subdivision
  7. Ex A Title 17 Unit Lot Subdivision Ord rev
  8. 2025-06-13 - Ex. B Title 18 Draft LFP Zoning Map 24 x36 June 2025 Amends (3)

Environmental Review (SEPA) Documents

  1. DNS City of LFP Middle Housing and ADU Code Amends
  2. LFP Middle Housing SEPA checklist 04072025
  3. City of Lake Forest Park 2025 Code Amendments for Middle Housing and ADU legislative mandates

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The City of Lake Forest Park is in the process of updating its development regulations as mandated by Washington’s recently enacted middle housing and accessory dwelling unit legislation. The legislation, aimed at increasing housing diversity and affordability, requires cities of a certain size to permit middle housing types in all zoning districts predominantly zoned for residential use.

Middle housing types include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, courtyard apartments, cottage housing, and townhomes. These building types are typically compatible in scale, form, and character with detached single-family houses.  Based on population, Lake Forest Park is a Tier 3 city mandated to include duplexes, along with accessory dwelling units.

Key legislation shaping the current middle housing requirements include:

  • HB 1110, one of the primary pieces of legislation that mandates cities to allow middle housing types in all areas primarily zoned for residential uses, including single-family zones.
  • SB 5287, which complements HB 1110 by providing additional guidelines on how cities should implement middle housing, including considerations for parking, infrastructure, and design standards.
  • HB 2321, passed in 2024, modifies HB 1110 by providing clarification to the middle housing requirement, with changes reflected in the October 2024 Draft Model Ordinances and associated User Guide.
  • HB 1337, which aims to increase the supply of affordable housing across Washington by making it simpler and more financially feasible for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs). While not explicitly a “middle housing” bill, ADUs represent an important component of addressing the state’s housing needs.

PLANNING COMMISSION

The City of Lake Forest Park’s Planning Commission is reviewing background materials, existing development regulations, and draft amendments.  The Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council in early 2025.  The City Council will consider the draft amendments and take action by June 30, 2025, to meet mandate timelines, or become subject to a model ordinance for tier 3 cities.

Middle Housing & ADU

Background Documents Library

Leland Consulting Group Documents

  1. Leland LFP MIDDLE HOUSING FEASIBILITY AND RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT March 2024

Lake Forest Park 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update- Adopted Housing Sections

  1. 2024 Comp Plan Update Adopted Housing Element
  2. 2024 Comp Plan Update Adopted Vol II Housing Background Analysis
  3. 2024 Comp Plan Update Appendix A Racially Disparate Impact Analysis
  4. 2024 Comp Plan Update Appendix B HB1220 Methodology and Results
  5. 2024 Comp Plan Update Appendix C Adequate Provisions Checklist

WA State Middle Housing and ADU Legislation

  1. 1220-S2.E HBR Final Bill Report 2021
  2. 1220-S2.SL
  3. 1110-S2.E Final Bill Report 2023
  4. 1110-S2.SL
  5. 1337.E HBR Final Bill Report 2023
  6. 1337.SL
  7. 5258-S2.E SBR Final Bill Report 2023
  8. 5258-S2.SL (1)
  9. 2321-S.E HBR Final Bill Report 2024
  10. 2321-S.SL

WA State Dept of Commerce Middle Housing Documents

  1. Middle Housing User Guide 11-07-2024 Update
  2. 10.17.2024 Peer Presentation
  3. Tier 3 Cities Middle Housing Model Ordinance 10-24-2024 Update
  4. Commerce Preemption_FactSheet_Final

WA State Dept of Commerce Grant

  1. Lake_Forest_Park_MH_24-63336-123

Unit Lot Subdivision

  1. Commerce Handout re Unit Lot Subdivision

WA Chapter of the American Planning Association (WA APA)

  1. 2D Getting into the Middle HB 1110 Implementation
  2. 3C Beyond Adoption Implementing ADU Code Changes for Actual Results
  3. 5D STEPingUp_APA WA Port Townsend Slides 10092024_