Lynnwood Extends Paid Parking Pilot by Six Months
The Lynnwood City Council approved a six-month continuation of its commercial parking fee program Monday, with a 6–1 vote. Councilmember Isabel Mata cast the lone opposing vote.
The measure, first adopted in May, was initially designed to ease congestion around the city’s light rail station ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Staff aim to use the additional time to gauge broader interest among property owners in adopting paid parking.
So far, only Northline Village, the developer behind a mixed-use project near City Center, has taken part. That site, at 19800 44th Ave. W, sits adjacent to the light rail stop and currently offers 200 paid parking spaces on a vacant, paved parcel. Community Planning Manager Karl Almgren noted the developer views the initiative as a way to capitalize on the lot’s location, address community demand, and support liability coverage. Observations indicate the lot remains consistently full.
Development and Business Services Director Ben Wolters added that Alderwood Mall’s owner is evaluating paid parking in the busiest zones of its lot.
Almgren said questions have surfaced about possible new fees or taxes beyond the current model, which the council may review once the extension concludes in June. At present, the city captures sales tax revenue from the parking transactions.
At Monday’s public hearing, resident Quinn Van Order was the sole speaker opposing the expansion. “Nothing persists like the temporary,” he remarked, cautioning that once fees become a steady source of income, cities tend to rely on them long term. He urged officials to keep the program flexible, not permanent, so it doesn’t evolve into a dependable revenue stream.
Some councilmembers expressed cautious optimism about the extension but stopped short of endorsing permanence. Council President Nick Coelho said the upcoming farmers market at the light rail station, expected to launch by late spring or early summer 2027, offers a useful test case for how increased foot and vehicle traffic might affect parking patterns.
Mata, however, argued the program addresses only surface-level demand rather than deeper mobility challenges. “This is a temporary fix whose consequences may linger,” she said, noting that many residents lack access to vehicles and that overreliance on parking may undermine efforts to make Lynnwood walkable and transit-friendly.
Councilmember David Parshall observed that the city can advance alternative transportation options in parallel with the parking pilot, suggesting the two approaches need not compete.
The city aims to balance long-term improvements to Lynnwood’s traffic safety and accessibility with immediate, temporary fixes for specific congestion issues. Officials indicated that this approach allows for ongoing development of broader solutions while addressing current pain points experienced by drivers.
Contact: Jenna Peterson Phone: 425-339-3486 Email: jenna.peterson@a regional outlet.com X: @jennarpetersonn