Article XIII. City Center Planned Action
17.02.300 City center planned action.
A. Purpose. The city declares that the purpose of this section is to:
1. Combine environmental analysis with land use planning; and
2. Designate projects in the city center subarea as “planned actions” consistent with state law (RCW 43.21C.031); and
3. Streamline and expedite the land use permit review process by relying on completed and existing environmental analysis for the city center subarea; and
4. Apply the Lynnwood Municipal Code, along with the mitigation framework of this section, to process project applications as planned actions.
B. Findings. The city council finds that:
1. The city is required to prepare and implement plans in accordance with the provisions of the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), Chapter 36.70A RCW.
2. The city has adopted a comprehensive plan and city center subarea plan in compliance with the GMA.
3. Based on the report prepared by Lynnwood staff and reviewed by the city council in connection with the passage of the ordinance codified in this section, the environmental impacts of a planned action comprised of the city center subarea (city center) have been identified and adequately addressed in the Lynnwood city center final supplemental environmental impact statement dated September 9, 2004, as amended.
4. A planned action comprised of the city center:
a. Is a subsequent or implementing project covered by the final SEIS, the city comprehensive plan and the city center subarea plan; and
b. Is not an essential public facility, as defined in RCW 36.70A.200 or the city of Lynnwood comprehensive plan; and
c. Is consistent with the comprehensive plan and the city center subarea plan.
5. The final SEIS was prepared pursuant to RCW 43.21C.031 in anticipation of the city center being designated a planned action.
6. There are no specific mitigation measures, other than development regulations and payment of all impact fees and other fees required by the city code, that must be applied to a project application for development in the city center.
7. A streamlined process for review of project applications for development in the city center will benefit the public, protect the environment, and enhance economic development.
8. Opportunities for public involvement and review have been provided, and comments considered, as part of preparation of the draft and final SEIS for the city center subarea plan, implementing development regulations and amendments thereto, and the ordinance codified in this section.
C. Qualifying Criteria for Evaluating and Determining Projects as City Center Planned Actions.
1. Planned Action Area. A proposed project must be located in the city center, which shall be comprised of an approximately 250-acre area generally bounded by 194th Street SW and the planned extension of 194th Street on the north; 33rd Avenue West on the east; Interstate 5 on the southeast; and 48th Avenue West on the west, as depicted in the diagram attached as Exhibit A to the ordinance codified in this section.
2. Environmental Documents. Review of a project proposed as a planned action for a site-specific development permit application shall be based on the environmental analysis contained in the city center planned action environmental impact statement composed of the final supplemental EIS (September 9, 2004) and issued addendums.
3. Planned Action Qualifications. The following criteria and thresholds shall be used to determine whether a proposed project qualifies as a city center planned action:
a. Land Use. The project land uses and activities must be permitted in the city center zoning district (Chapter 21.60 LMC). The project may include the demolition of existing buildings and/or demolition/construction of parking facilities. The project shall not be for new public street projects that would not otherwise be exempt from WAC 197-11-800.
b. Development Thresholds. The proposed project, combined with city center projects approved by or pending with the city, cumulatively do not exceed the development envelope established by the final SEIS, as shown in the following City Center Summary Development Table (Table 17.02.01). Table 17.02.01 identifies the maximum amount of planned action development for SEPA purposes. Development could occur anywhere within the city center and at potentially differing rates from the estimates.
|
Land Use |
Development Capacity |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Nonresidential |
Office |
4.25M SF (2) |
|
Retail |
1.5M SF |
|
|
Lodging |
850,000 SF |
|
|
Residential |
Housing |
6,000 DU / 5.7M SF |
|
Total Development |
12.3M SF (1) |
|
|
SF – Square Feet; M SF – Million Square Feet; DU – Dwelling Unit |
||
Notes:
1Includes existing development.
2Office use includes institutional uses.
c. A geographic shifting of development among uses within the city center is allowed; provided, that:
i. The development does not exceed the aggregate amount of development provided in Table 17.02.01; and
ii. The impacts of the development have been identified and mitigated by applicable adopted development regulations.
d. Elements of the Environment Analyzed in the Final SEIS. A project that would result in new significant adverse environmental impacts that were not identified in the EIS shall not qualify as a planned action.
e. Time Horizon. A proposed city center project application may be considered a planned action; provided, that total development shown in Table 17.02.01 (City Center Summary Development Table) has not been constructed, or until the year 2032, whichever occurs first.
f. Significant Changes. If the project significantly changes the assumptions for the environmental analysis identified in the final SEIS, the project shall not qualify as a planned action and the SEPA responsible official shall require additional SEPA review.
g. Exceeding Total Development. A proposed city center project application that exceeds the total development shown in Table 17.02.01 (City Center Summary Development Table) may be considered following review under this title, including SEPA.
D. Applications for planned actions shall be processed in accordance with LMC 17.02.029. (Ord. 3425 § 3, 2022; Ord. 2943 § 1, 2012)