Planning staff told the commission the state’s recent legislation requires jurisdictions to allow childcare facilities broadly and to provide a conditional-use pathway in industrial zones where outright permitting is restricted. Libby Grage, planning manager, cited Senate Bill (SB) 5509 (as discussed in the packet) and the recent state guidance and said the city already allows on-site, employer-provided childcare as an accessory use in its industrial and light-manufacturing zones. “The types of childcare facilities like on-site, daycare facilities serving a business…would be considered an accessory use under our development regulations,” Grage said. Under that approach, a dedicated standalone childcare center that is the primary use of a property would not be permitted in those industrial zones without further code changes.

Commissioners asked staff how the city will meet the state requirement that childcare be permitted in residential zones in the near term; Grage said that permitting outright daycare in residential zones is a heavier lift and is not required to be completed during the periodic update, so it will be brought back to the commission for future action. Commissioners also discussed the municipal code’s use tables and whether additional code edits are necessary to demonstrate compliance. Staff recommended returning with targeted code edits and with a timeline for implementing the state-required residential-zone changes.