Zoning Code Update 2023-2024

The City of Aberdeen is undertaking a major update to its zoning code and development standards for the first time in more than twenty years. The update seeks to revise and streamline the code to align with the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, while improving usability of the code and reducing barriers to development.

The project team consists of city staff and consultants from MAKERS architecture & urban design LLP. The team is also collaborating with a zoning work group composed of members of the city council and planning commission who will help to shape the code. In recent years MAKERS has worked with cities like Anacortes, Port Orchard, and Wenatchee to update out-of-date zoning codes.

Once the team develops a first draft of the code the community will be invited to review and give feedback at an in-person public open house event, expected to be held in early 2024. Community members are also encouraged to share comments about the zoning code with their ward representatives throughout the project.

In August the team began reviewing existing codes, meeting with stakeholders, and recently toured Aberdeen neighborhoods to better understand the issues at play. In the next few months, the team will develop draft revisions to city standards for new development, commercial signs, private driveways, parking, and public frontage improvements, propose new design and subdivision standards, and work to clean up piecemeal additions made over the years.