Planning Commission

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Top: Commissioner Edouard Lassalle, Commissioner Chris Olson, Vice Chair Dwight Thompson. Bottom: Commissioner David Dorrian, Chair Tracy Banaszynski, Commissioner Mike Vanderlinde, Commissioner Kara Macias

The Planning Commission is comprised of seven members appointed by the City Council for three-year terms. The Planning Commission serves as a policy advisory body to the City Council providing guidance and recommendations on the City’s Comprehensive Plan and related land use documents. Administrative rules govern how the Planning Commission conducts its business.

The City Council approves the Planning Commission’s work program at the beginning of each year.

Planning Commission News

Middle Housing and ADU Code Amendments - please see the Middle Housing page.

2025 Planning Commission Docket

On January 27, 2025, the City Council approved the 2025 Planning Commission docket. The following items will be considered during the course of the calendar year:

Middle Housing & ADU Regulations – New regulations to allow for a variety of housing types in R1, R4, and R6 zones. Required to be adopted by June 30, 2025.
Land Use Element & Housing Element Updates – Amendments related to the middle housing regulations (if needed)
Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan /Parks and Recreation Element/ and Parks Capital Facilities Plan Updates – for more information on these items, see the Planning Initiatives link.
Bastyr University Master Plan Update (Comprehensive Plan Update/zoning update/master plan update) – Update of the university’s master plan and comprehensive plan to allow for multi-family, market rate housing. More information on this proposal will be forthcoming.

Planning Commission Meetings

Unless otherwise posted the meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month on-site in the Council Chambers. Additionally, we try to provide access to the meeting virtually via Zoom webinar and YouTube livestream.

Planning Commission agendas are available to the public from the Planning Clerk’s office the Friday prior to the Tuesday meeting and are posted on the City's website. Agenda copies are always available at the Commission meeting.

We welcome our community members to attend and speak during Public Comment at a Planning Commission meeting. In this forum, the Commission does not engage or dialogue with the public; our primary role is to listen. We will hear from our on-site guests first, followed by our pre-registered virtual guests. All guests must address comments to the Chair and the Commission. The Clerk will acknowledge your request and call your name when it is your turn. Please state your name and city of residence for the record and keep your comments to 3 minutes.

VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION PROCESS: To provide public comments virtually, please fill out the Virtual Public Comment Request Form in advance of the meeting. The form closes at 12:00 Noon on the day of the meeting. You will be confirmed by the Clerk. If you are having difficulty, please reach out to the Clerk at stippleleen@kenmorewa.gov.

Planning Commission Meeting Records

Commissioners

Tracy Banaszynski, Chair

Dwight Thompson, Vice Chair