Bothell, Washington, is close to adopting an update to its Downtown Subarea Plan, the plan that has guided growth in downtown Bothell since the city first adopted it in 2009. The Bothell Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Downtown Subarea Plan update on Oct. 21. The City Council had the draft on its agenda for a study session Tuesday, Oct. 27, according to the council agenda packet.
The schedule from here: the Planning Commission finalizes its recommendation Nov. 4, the City Council holds its own public hearing Nov. 17, and a council vote on adoption is expected Dec. 8. The plan is being adopted as part of Bothell's 2026 comprehensive plan amendments.
What the plan does, and doesn't, change
The subarea plan is a policy document. It sets the vision, goals and project list for downtown, but most of the rules builders work under will come later.
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Councilmembers have asked about "increased height limits in certain districts, minimum density requirements, removal of building stepback requirements," and other ways to add housing. Staff told the council those ideas will be weighed in a separate development code update "in early 2027."
There's a ceiling on how far that update can go without more study. The 2024 comprehensive plan assumed downtown would add 1,895 housing units and 2,070 jobs, or about 725,000 square feet of commercial space. Staff told the Planning Commission that zoning beyond what that plan studied "may require additional environmental review," including updates to the downtown environmental impact statement and planned action ordinance.
Ground-floor retail rules are also on hold. Some councilmembers want to expand the area where shops are required on the ground floor. The plan instead points to "retail-ready" ground floors that can switch from apartments to storefronts later, and staff will check any rule against Washington Senate Bill 6026, a new state law that sets requirements and limits for ground-floor retail rules.
Main Street and a town square
The plan leans toward making Block EFG downtown's main gathering space, a recommendation from the city's urban design consultant. Main Street would be closed on a scheduled or temporary basis to extend the square for events.
Opinions on the pedestrian-focused block of Main Street are split. Staff wrote that feedback "has been mixed": many residents like the room for outdoor dining and shopping, while others worry about business visibility and access.
Transit and roads
Downtown streets are about to get busier with buses. Sound Transit's Stride bus rapid transit is due in 2028, running on NE 185th Street every 10 minutes at peak hours and every 15 minutes off-peak, and Community Transit's Swift line is planned to extend into downtown. Staff also noted that planning for the replacement 102nd Ave NE bridge could change how traffic moves downtown.
Sources
- City Council agenda packet, Oct. 27, 2026, Downtown Subarea Plan Update study session, City of Bothell
- Planning Commission agenda packet, Oct. 21, 2026, public hearing on the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Downtown Subarea Plan, City of Bothell
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