Public hearing set on ordinance amending land-use code chapters, shortening some permit deadlines

What the records say

The Sept. 14, 2026 City Council regular meeting agenda listed a public hearing to receive citizens' comments on Proposed Ordinance No. 26-0652, presented by Planner Reilly Rosbotham and Community Development Director Samantha Loyuk. ¹ The ordinance would amend Chapters 17.30 and 19.25 of the Kenmore Municipal Code. ¹ The hearing presentation in the packet describes the changes as aligning city code with state law under SB 5611: clarifying that commercially zoned property includes multi-family residential zoning for binding site plans, clarifying that cities may not prohibit the condominium or cooperative form of ownership, and shortening permit decision deadlines — from 100 to 65 days for permits without public notice and from 170 to 100 days for permits requiring public notice only, with no change to the 170-day deadline for permits requiring notice and a hearing. ¹ The packet contains pre-meeting materials only; it does not establish the hearing's outcome. ¹

• The public hearing on Proposed Ordinance No. 26-0652 was scheduled as item 14A, the first item under the Public Hearing section of the Sept. 14, 2026 City Council regular meeting agenda.
• The ordinance would amend Chapters 17.30 and 19.25 of the Kenmore Municipal Code, addressing binding site plans, common interest communities, and permit time limitations.
• Per the hearing presentation, permit deadlines would change: 65 days (from 100) for permits without public notice, 100 days (from 170) for permits requiring public notice only, and no change to the 170-day deadline for permits requiring notice and a hearing.
• Virtual hearing testimony required pre-registration through a form that opened Tuesdays at 12:00 noon and closed Mondays at 12:00 noon, confirmed by the City Clerk's Office.

Why it matters

Residents, builders, and property owners have a scheduled opportunity to comment on changes that would affect how land can be divided and how long the city has to decide permit applications. The shortened deadlines would apply to project permits in Kenmore, and the condominium-form-of-ownership clarification affects how certain housing developments can be structured. ¹

What changed / what's next

• Proposed Ordinance No. 26-0652 would amend KMC Chapters 17.30 and 19.25 to align with state changes under SB 5611 concerning binding site plans, common interest communities, and permit deadlines. ¹
• The packet contains pre-meeting materials only and does not establish whether the hearing occurred or how the Council acted on the ordinance. ¹
• The draft ordinance text itself is listed as an attachment but its contents are not included in the supplied packet; the described changes come from the hearing presentation. ¹
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.