Bothell: Housing Action Plan
The City of Bothell is actively engaging its community in shaping its future through several key planning initiatives aimed at addressing housing needs, revitalizing its downtown core, mitigating climate change, and enhancing its urban forest. The Housing Action Plan (HAP) is a crucial undertaking designed to ensure a diverse range of affordable housing options are available to all residents. Recognizing the state-wide housing shortage, Bothell aims to proactively create solutions that allow individuals from all backgrounds and income levels to call the city home. The HAP will guide the creation of more diverse housing types, including affordable options, through thoughtful policies, partnerships, and innovative strategies, prioritizing equitable access and long-term solutions for a vibrant and inclusive community.
Building on the success of the 2009 Downtown Subarea Plan, which spurred significant revitalization, the city is now undertaking a Downtown Subarea Plan Update. This initiative seeks to create a new and inclusive vision for downtown Bothell, encompassing its buildings, transportation systems, public spaces, and economy. With substantial growth and change occurring over the past 15 years, the update aims to ensure that downtown continues to evolve in alignment with the needs and values of residents, businesses, and visitors. Community input is central to this process, with multiple engagement phases planned to ensure diverse perspectives, including those of underserved and marginalized groups, are incorporated into the updated plan.
Addressing the urgent need for climate action, Bothell is developing its first Climate Action Plan, slated for completion by the end of 2025. This plan will serve as a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing the city for the impacts of climate change. It will identify actionable steps for both the City and community members across key sectors like buildings and energy, transportation and land use, and waste management. The plan will align with Washington’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050, building upon the city’s existing Sustainability Program and the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, which established a climate-focused chapter. The development process emphasizes community involvement through surveys and workshops to assess local needs and gather feedback on proposed actions, with opportunities to review and comment on the draft plan before its potential adoption by the City Council.
Complementing these efforts is the development of Bothell’s first Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP), also expected by the end of 2025. Partnering with PlanIT Geo, this plan will guide the city’s efforts to preserve and enhance its tree cover amidst ongoing growth and development. The UFMP will shape policies and programs to support a healthy and sustainable urban forest, ensuring trees remain a vital component of Bothell’s neighborhoods, parks, and natural areas. It will also provide strategies for maintaining existing trees and identifying opportunities for new plantings, building upon Bothell’s long-standing recognition as a Tree City USA community and a 2016 Tree Canopy Assessment. The UFMP development will involve a Tree Canopy Assessment update, a new Street Tree Inventory, and community focus groups to ensure the plan reflects community needs and priorities, with opportunities for public review of the draft plan.