The City of Lynnwood City Center Sub-Area Plan identified the goal for the City Center to create, within 20 years, a compact, intense and lively City Center that offers Lynnwood new opportunities for culture, commerce and habitation. This is a key Sub-Area designated to accommodate and direct the City’s growth and protect existing residential areas. City Center objectives include restructuring the City Center's growth toward a more concentrated, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly and transit supportive center, developing a distinct, strong identity for the Lynnwood City Center, creating an attractive, functional and comfortable place for Lynnwood residents to live, work and play.

The Council has identified the City Center as having broad public purposes. As such, development tools to facilitate and expedite development in the City Center are in place or being developed including: 

- The Multi-Family Property Tax Exemption
- The Transportation Impact Fee Exemption
- The SEPA Planned Action
- The Draft Economic Development Infrastructure Policy