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Planning Policy Commission

Thursday, September 25, 2025

6:30 PM · 14m 8s · Council Chambers, 135 E. Sunset Way, Issaquah WA
Topics tracked across meetings:
2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Rezone AB 9063 5/7
Amendments to Mobility Action Plan Re: Transportation Concurrency Policy Update AB 9030 4/5
Section
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2a
Minutes of September 11, 2025
packet pp.3–7
Staff report:
MINUTES PLANNING POLICY COMMISSION 6:30 p.m. – Thursday, September 11, 2025
4. PUBLIC HEARING
4a
2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
, Christen Leeson, Planning Manager Public Hearing Order: Commission · packet pp.9–41
Topics: Land Use
Staff report:
The purpose of the September 25
5. REPORTS
5a
Council Update
6. OTHER BUSINESS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
6a
Upcoming Schedule
packet pp.43–44
Staff report:
Staff Support: Stephen Padua Staff Support: Christen Leeson 4/10/25 4/24/25 ▪ Chairs Election ▪ Tree Code
0:07 Well, good evening everyone. Uh, I'd
0:10 like to call the Planning Policy
0:11 Commission meeting this September 25th
0:14 to order, and it currently is 6:30 p.m.
0:19 Kristen has promised us one of the
0:21 longest planning policy commission
0:23 meetings we've ever had. So, I hope you
0:25 all have ate your dinner and are ready.
0:29 Kristen, the first thing we want to do
0:31 is ask if we have a quorum this evening.
0:34 [Music]
0:35 >> Yes, we do.
0:36 >> Okay. Thank you, Kristen. And we do have
0:38 uh Commissioner Crass is excused. And I
0:42 believe uh Commissioner Mole Baru as
0:44 well is going to try and make it. So,
0:46 we'll see if she's able to. We're going
0:49 to move on to the approval of minutes.
0:52 And the only minutes we have to approve
0:53 this evening are the September 11th
0:55 minutes from our last meeting.
0:58 Are there any corrections or concerns to
1:01 the minutes?
1:03 All right, those minutes are unanimously
1:06 approved.
1:08 The next item of business is the public
1:10 comment. Uh we're going to hold general
1:13 public comment at this time and this is
1:16 for the good of the commission. Uh
1:19 general topics. Uh there will be an
1:21 opportunity for the public to comment on
1:23 the public hearing a little later.
1:25 staff. Clearly there's nobody in the
1:27 room with us this evening, but is there
1:29 anyone online?
1:32 >> No, Chair, there is not.
1:34 >> Okay, great. Thank you, Amanda. So, we
1:37 will return to those guidelines when we
1:38 get to the public hearing,
1:41 which is now.
1:43 So, our first item of regular business
1:45 is to hold a public hearing regarding
1:47 the proposed 2025 comprehensive plan
1:50 amendments. The purpose of this public
1:53 hearing is to provide a formal
1:54 opportunity for the public comment on
1:57 the proposed amendments. We'll open the
1:59 public hearing which will be followed by
2:01 a presentation from staff and then the
2:04 PPC will have an opportunity to ask
2:06 follow-up questions.
2:08 We'll then take public testimony, close
2:10 the public hearing, and then the
2:12 planning policy commission will have an
2:14 opportunity uh to debate and make a
2:16 recommendation on this item.
2:19 Uh Kristen, our principal planner, will
2:21 be presenting this evening. So Kristen,
2:24 when you are ready, please go ahead.
2:39 Good evening. I am Kristen Leon, the
2:41 planning manager for uh community
2:43 planning and development. And the
2:46 purpose of the meeting has pretty much
2:48 been stated um and you do all you do get
2:51 a chance to deliberate and make a
2:52 recommendation tonight if you feel it's
2:54 appropriate on the 2025 comprehensive
2:57 plan amendments as proposed. So, the
3:00 first one that we're doing, a first
3:01 amendment that we are proposing is to
3:04 add a policy HB6
3:07 to allow market rate non-subsidized
3:09 rental homes. Whoops.
3:13 In zones which allow multif family
3:15 housing. And this is one that you all
3:16 had a comment on last time. There was
3:19 language in there regarding market rate
3:22 nonsubsidized 50% AMI and we all agreed
3:25 that wasn't necessary. So, this just
3:27 follows along with state law that says
3:28 allow it where multif family housing is
3:30 allowed.
3:36 Also, we mentioned the
3:40 potential reszone of a property that is
3:43 conditioned upon your recommendation and
3:46 the city council's approval of the land
3:48 change in land use designation. So on
3:51 September 10th, the hearing examiner, we
3:54 held a public hearing, recommended
3:56 approval with that condition. And this
3:59 would move the parcel outlined in red in
4:02 blue here. I can't get to the outlined
4:05 in red
4:07 blue. My word um from community
4:10 facilities facilities to retail. That
4:12 would be the new land use designation.
4:19 something in my view which is blocking
4:21 what I can see and can't see.
4:23 Okay.
4:25 The next one was our transportation
4:27 element. Most of the changes that are in
4:29 there, some are just clerical changes,
4:32 some are just uh for clarification
4:36 and the rest are in order to comply with
4:38 House Bill 1181 that was adopted by the
4:41 state back in 2023.
4:43 The goal was to enhance most multimodal
4:46 connections and access in line with the
4:48 adopted plans and community needs.
4:55 The first one was to amend
4:57 transportation element policy D1. This
5:00 expanded the tier system to all of
5:02 central Isiqua rather than than just the
5:04 regional growth center which is located
5:05 inside central Isiqua and amends tier
5:08 one to tier four to allow for either 20
5:12 mph speed limits which was already in
5:14 the code and or provide a sidewalk on
5:18 either side. And Commissioner Dar you
5:21 brought up last time um that this was a
5:23 ranking and a priority system. It's not
5:26 a priority system so much as a
5:28 categorization system. So it's not
5:30 saying that we want to get the tier ones
5:32 done first and the tier fours done last.
5:34 It is simply if you're in this area
5:36 which we're labeling T4, this is what
5:39 you're required to have. So I wanted to
5:40 make that clarification
5:42 because you had a point. Yes,
5:45 you always do. But um transportation
5:48 element, let's see, moving on. Next was
5:51 to add new policy D3, which is to
5:53 implement
5:55 uh leading pedestrian interval LPIs at
5:58 signalized intersections along tier 1
6:00 pedestrian corridors. And the reason is
6:03 to increase safety for pedestrians in
6:05 those areas. And as a reminder, this is
6:07 where a few additional seconds are
6:09 allowed with to for the person to walk
6:13 before the light actually turns green
6:14 for automobiles.
6:18 Next transportation element policy D3
6:21 discussion was to provide context and
6:23 information related to the new policy
6:25 D3.
6:29 There was a goal E discussion that was
6:31 added also to provide a summary of
6:33 statistics and clear information of bike
6:36 facilities because there just wasn't
6:37 anything there before.
6:40 Transportation policy F5 was amended to
6:44 read to ensure that transit services
6:47 performed at acceptable levels, routes
6:49 and stops in Isiqua meet the city's
6:52 transit level of service standards by
6:53 service tier. So it reflects the changes
6:55 to the level of service required by the
6:57 state.
7:01 Goal F discussion was just amended to
7:03 better describe transit service in
7:04 Isiqua access to service and working
7:06 with transit op transit service
7:08 operators.
7:11 Goal F is another discussion. And it was
7:14 amended to describe and explain new
7:16 transit level of service or LOS policy
7:19 policies and include a new LOS policy
7:22 table again in compliance with 1181 and
7:25 new transit to explain that the new
7:28 transit level of service is more
7:30 holistic and offers more ways for the
7:32 city to directly enhance multimodal
7:33 connections and advocate for higher
7:35 transit service higher frequencies.
7:40 I should note in case you all have any
7:41 questions about those when we move on
7:43 that Jillian who made the presentation
7:44 on levelers last time and the
7:46 transportation element is online if you
7:48 all have any questions for her.
7:51 So those are the proposed amendments.
7:53 Our next steps is that these will go to
7:55 the planning development and environment
7:57 committee on October 7th and then to
7:59 council on November 10th for action
8:02 and then we have a recommended motion.
8:04 So that ends my presentation.
8:07 [Music]
8:10 Okay. Thank you, Kristen.
8:13 Do any of the commissioners have any
8:14 questions for Kristen or Julia?
8:19 Commissioner Dare,
8:21 I just have like a technical question
8:24 about the lights, the delay on the
8:26 lights. Is that to prevent uh
8:30 cars turning from hitting pedestrians in
8:32 the crosswalk? Basically, yes, it is.
8:34 Because oftent times if they're going at
8:35 the same time, somebody steps into the
8:37 crosswalk the same time somebody's
8:38 turning. So this way the person the
8:40 driver they'll have a chance to see that
8:42 somebody's halfway across. Yes.
8:44 >> Thank you. That's it. You're welcome.
8:47 >> I think we discussed last time it's like
8:48 about a 3se secondond delay. Three to
8:50 four.
8:50 >> Correct. It was a about a 3se secondond
8:52 delay.
8:52 >> Yeah.
8:58 >> Tempted to do the round robin. We got
8:59 some time to fill. But if if you really
9:01 don't have any questions, I think we
9:02 could probably move on. No questions.
9:07 Okay,
9:09 we will go ahead and open a public
9:10 hearing. And it currently is 6:39 p.m.
9:15 Amanda, has anyone signed up to speak
9:17 this evening?
9:21 >> No, chair, they have not.
9:25 >> Quick indeed. the public hearing. We
9:29 will close at 6:39 p.m. There is formal
9:33 action requested on this agenda item.
9:35 Uh, is a member of the planning policy
9:38 willing to make a recommendation or I'm
9:40 sorry, a motion?
9:44 Vice Chair Patterson.
9:46 Chair, I'd like to move to approve the
9:48 2025 comprehensive plan amendments as
9:51 presented.
9:53 [Music]
9:54 >> Okay. Is there a second?
9:56 >> Second. Thank you, Commissioner Oler.
9:59 All right,
10:02 now that there's a second, uh, clearly
10:04 anyone that has anything that they'd
10:05 like to discuss on this topic, please
10:07 feel free
10:15 give it some time to percolate.
10:25 Okay, if there is no additional comment,
10:28 again, these are pretty technical. Uh we
10:30 had a wonderful presentation our last
10:32 meeting. Sounds like a lot of our
10:34 questions were answered. Sounds like uh
10:36 the input that we had um was adopted or
10:39 kind of put into
10:42 our new packet.
10:45 So, the motion is on the floor to uh
10:48 approve these amendments.
10:51 All in favor?
10:53 All right. So, that passes unanimously
10:58 and I believe that's everything staff
11:01 needed from us.
11:04 So, the main motion has been
11:05 recommended. Uh, again, a uni a
11:07 unanimous vote.
11:10 Um, I guess Kristen, I know you walked
11:12 away from the microphone, but is there
11:13 anything you need from us regarding the
11:15 public hearing?
11:16 >> No, that's all I needed. Thank you.
11:18 >> Okay. Thank you. The next item on the
11:21 agenda is council updates.
11:24 We have any council updates?
11:35 >> I don't think so. I gave the tree code
11:37 update last time, but that is going to
11:40 council. Um
11:43 Oh, I don't think I have anything else
11:44 for you at this time.
11:46 >> Okay.
11:46 >> Okay,
11:47 >> fair enough. I did get to see the
11:48 candidate forum today at the uh
11:50 Isizakiqua Hilton. That was fantastic. I
11:52 believe it's Do they film those?
11:55 >> It's the chamber, right? It's not put on
11:57 by the actual city,
11:58 >> right? It's put on by the chamber.
11:59 >> Yeah. If you guys do have an
12:00 opportunity, you can see our own
12:02 commissioner Zacharov there as well as
12:04 other candidates for council as well as
12:06 the mayorial uh the mayoral candidates.
12:09 So again, some interesting.
12:10 >> I believe it was just the mayoral
12:11 candidates today.
12:12 >> No, it was all new city council.
12:14 >> I'm getting a big shake of the head. No,
12:18 >> no, no. I just I'm saying to go see it.
12:21 >> Yeah. Okay.
12:22 >> Okay.
12:22 >> Fair enough.
12:24 >> Uh the reports, Kristen, anything else
12:26 to provide city life? Anything going on?
12:29 >> Did we talk last time about the
12:30 discussion with city council and their
12:33 priorities for
12:35 planning next year?
12:37 >> We've talked Yeah. a little bit about
12:39 >> a little bit about it and just that they
12:40 Yeah, they're looking to have um
12:42 >> more of an impact on our
12:43 >> more of an impact more of an impact on
12:45 housing. So there will be housing
12:46 changes coming and so we will be putting
12:49 together a work plan soon and coming to
12:51 you all at the end of the year with
12:52 that.
12:53 >> Okay.
12:53 >> Yeah.
12:54 >> And then this weekend or is it this
12:57 weekend or next weekend? It's the
12:58 following weekend is salmon days.
13:00 >> Is salmon days. Yes. The first weekend
13:02 of October.
13:04 >> I know you're still looking for
13:05 volunteers. Is that correct?
13:07 >> Probably. Yes. I don't know.
13:09 >> The more the merrier. So if you do feel
13:11 like volunteering, uh salmon days is
13:13 right around the corner.
13:16 Okay.
13:17 >> I'm pretty sure I'm going to be working
13:18 the parking lot at ID if anyone wants to
13:21 commission there. Yeah, if you're
13:27 >> Well, make sure to go say hi. Uh, having
13:30 said that, is there anything for the
13:31 good of the order from our
13:32 commissioners,
13:36 staff?
13:39 Okay. Well, again, thank you everybody.
13:41 I know sometimes it's hard to get ready
13:43 and come in, but uh it's still
13:44 necessary. It's still an important part
13:46 of the function of city government. So,
13:49 having been promised earlier this would
13:50 be one of the shortest planning policy
13:52 commission on record, we will adjourn
13:54 this evening at 6:44 p.m. Thank you.
14:06 [Music]

Attendance

Staff (1)
Christen Leeson, Planning Manager Amanda Jackson, Meeting Assistant 2. Approval of Minutes a) Minutes of September 11, 2025 With no changes or comments, the Minutes were approved. 3

Recommendations & actions (2)

Sentences extracted from the narrative containing words like recommended, requested, directed, moved, or approved. Best-effort — verify against the full minutes for context.

  • a) Minutes of September 11, 2025 With no changes or comments, the Minutes were approved.
  • MOTION seconded by COMMISSIONER OLINER.