LYNNWOOD—Lynnwood City Council updated its Council Rules relating to remote public comments, approved the 2024 Finance Committee meeting schedule, unanimously agreed to $45,000 in incentives for camp counselor and lifeguard positions, and held a public hearing on a proposed development agreement with Garden Senior Village at its Business Meeting on February 12.

Public Hearing: Garden Senior Village Development Agreement

Garden Senior Village has proposed an addition to an existing senior housing complex. A development agreement is required for flexibility on density, height, and parking requirements. The Development Agreement (DA) involving the Northwest Housing Preservation Group for a project design review, is to construct a 4-story, 24,600 gross square foot attached addition for 36 new senior housing units.

The addition will be on the north side of the existing 122-unit building near the east entrance on 64^th Avenue W. Parking for the site will be reduced from 114 to 106 spaces. All 36 new units will also be subject to the affordable housing agreement of 50% County median income. Originally new residents would need to qualify to a higher 60% County median income requirement; however, the management company reduced the threshold to 50% making the units more accessible for prospective residents.

Typically, a Public Hearing is not required in lieu of an administrative approval; however, Karl Almgren, Community Planning Manager for the city of Lynnwood, shared that because the proposed design involves reducing parking requirements, and easing limits to height and density, the council must approve these requirements for construction to commence.

Northwest Housing Preservation Group is requesting an increase in density threshold from 134 to 158 units, an increase in the height restriction of 35 to 41 feet, and reduce the minimum parking requirement from 244 to 106 stalls.

The new building will have an elevator, two laundry rooms, and provide air conditioning during hot summer months. Fencing on the north end of the property will be moved six feet closer and will be two feet higher, which coupled with the preservation of the existing Evergreen trees, will provide privacy to neighboring homes.

About a dozen residents of Garden Senior Village attended, with several voicing concerns over parking—specifically its future availability.

Jim Moreno, Board President of Northwest Housing Preservation Group, shared that there are currently 70 registered vehicles to the existing 122-unit property which equated to a 0.574 vehicle-to-unit ratio. Extrapolating this ratio to the proposed 36-unit addition, would produce a need of 21 parking stalls, equating to a total need of 91 stalls (70 from existing + 21 estimated for the new addition) to an ask to the City of 106 parking stalls.

“The City Center standard for the LMC requires 0.50 per one bedroom in Lynnwood and for seniors it is 0.25, so we are asking for that consideration [in your decision],” Moreno shared with councilmembers.

After construction, which is expected to last a year, a remediation project to replace plumbing in the original building envelope will commence that is expected to last between 18 to 24 months. During this phase of the project, residents will be temporarily housed, at four- to eight-week periods, in the newly constructed 36-unit wing.

Garden Senior Village is at the early stages of pre-construction and is currently in the process of selecting a contractor. After a contractor is selected, the management company will release more information on the project’s timeline and transition plan to residents.

Almgren shared with the council “touch points” within the permitting process that can be utilized to establish conditions clarifying conditions prior to approvals such as parking mitigation, and communication and meeting requirements.

“We also hold the Certificate of Occupancy to ensure that specific items are completed,” Almgren shared with the council. “This is the golden ticket, that is what allows people to move in.”

The council is expected to vote on approving the Development Agreement at its next Business Meeting on February 26, 2024.

Council Rules Amendments

The rule surrounding Remote Public Comment was temporarily suspended in accordance with Council Rule 1(A) following several instances of “Zoom bombing” and antisemitic comments. A new procedure was created to require registration on the City Council website in contradiction with rule 14, now referred to as rules 9(B.5)(A) and 9(B.5)(C).

The Council unanimously passed a resolution amending the official Rules document to reflect its January 8 motion that restricted remote public comment. Councilman Patrick Decker made the motion that was seconded by Council Vice President Julieta Altamirano-Crosby.

2024 Finance Committee Meeting Calendar

The City Council Rules of Procedure require Council approval of a meeting calendar each year for the City Council Finance Committee. The proposed resolution was reviewed by the Finance Committee on January 25.

Finance Committee meetings are open to the public and formalizing the meeting calendar allows the public to be aware of upcoming meetings. Below is the proposed meeting schedule:

The motion brought forward by Lynnwood Council President George Hurst and seconded by Council Vice President Altamirano-Crosby, to adopt the schedule was unanimously approved.

PRCA Hours Incentive Program

The City Council unanimously approved a proposed $45,000 resolution, proposed by Human Resources and PRCA, in support of an hours worked incentive program for camp counselor and lifeguard positions. These two specific non-benefited, part-time job classifications are difficult to keep filled with employees. The City claims that an incentivization to work additional hours is needed to address the operational needs of the Recreation Division. The motion was made by Council Vice President Altamirano-Crosby and seconded by Councilman David Parshall.

Other City Council Business

The City will honored the Life and Legacy of former Lynnwood Councilman Loren Simmonds and Councilman Joshua Binda read a proclamation for Black History Month.