Bothell Urbanism Guide#

A practical guide for people who want to make Bothell a better place to live, move, and grow.

Bothell is changing fast. New BRT lines, zoning reforms, bike infrastructure, housing policy – there’s a lot happening, and it can be hard to know where to start. This guide exists so that when you show up to a city council meeting, open house, or public comment period, you can actually follow the conversation and contribute meaningfully.

Who this is for#

• You live in Bothell and want to understand how the city works
• You care about housing, transit, or walkability but feel lost in the jargon
• You want to get involved but don’t know where to start
• You’ve been to a community meeting and felt like everyone else knew something you didn’t

How to use this guide#

Quick Start#

Start here. A plain-language overview of Bothell’s urban landscape – who decides what, what’s being built, and what the big debates are.

Glossary#

Look up urbanist terms you’ve heard but can’t quite define. GMA, SEPA, TOD, Complete Streets – we break them all down with Bothell-specific context.

Timeline#

Bothell’s urbanism story didn’t start yesterday. See the key decisions, plans, and turning points that shaped the city – from incorporation in 1909 to the 2024 comprehensive plan update.

Guides#

In-depth guides on transit, the bike network, downtown revitalization, and other urbanism topics – with history, data, and resources.

Blog#

Deeper dives, analysis, and updates on what’s happening now.

What this is not#

This isn’t a news source. It’s not an advocacy org. This is a reference guide – a place to build your understanding so you can engage with your community more effectively.

This is an open-source project. If something is wrong, incomplete, or confusing, help us fix it.