How to schedule a Medina predevelopment meeting before you apply

Choose the correct Medina meeting

• Predevelopment meeting: for owners and applicants preparing a building permit such as a new house, addition, or remodel. Include preliminary site or building plans.
• Development information meeting: for a party other than the owner who is studying zoning and development limitations on a parcel, such as a prospective buyer.
• Both are early guidance, not a completeness determination, code approval, vested application, or guarantee of a permit outcome.

Schedule through the permit portal

Medina holds the meetings online on Wednesday mornings, subject to availability. Download the correct fillable form, choose a preferred Wednesday time, and upload the form to the city's SmartGov permitting portal. Predevelopment requests must include preliminary plans or other project documents. The published cutoff is noon on the Thursday before the requested Wednesday.

• The current predevelopment form lists 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 a.m. preferences.
• Create or use a SmartGov account before the cutoff so portal access does not become the scheduling problem.
• Confirm availability and current charges with Development Services before relying on a date.

Understand the $2,000 deposit

Medina states that a $2,000 advance deposit is collected for either meeting. The deposit reimburses the city for consultant time as costs are incurred. The city says a remaining balance is refunded approximately three months after the meeting. Treat $2,000 as a deposit, not necessarily the final cost, and ask how billing and refunds will be documented.

Prepare for a multi-discipline discussion

Depending on the project, Medina may make its Planner, Development Services Coordinator, Building Official, Tree Code Consultant, Grading and Drainage Consultant, and Development Services Director available. Staff may email checklists after the meeting.

• Start with Medina Title 16 zoning and a parcel-specific concept.
• Bring a survey or site plan, preliminary floor plans and elevations, trees, grading and drainage concept, access, utilities, and known easements.
• Separate questions by zoning, building, trees, grading/drainage, and application documents.
• Record every caveat and follow-up; discussions are nonbinding.

Direct contacts and City Hall

• Steven Wilcox, Development Services Director: 425-233-6409, swilcox@medina-wa.gov.
• Rebecca Bennett, Development Services Coordinator: 425-233-6414, rbennett@medina-wa.gov.
• City Hall: 501 Evergreen Point Road, Medina, WA 98039; main phone 425-233-6400.
• Published City Hall business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule the formal online meeting through the portal rather than assuming a walk-in review is available.