Planning 2024-10-24 Minutes - Middle Housing Project Update

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Planning Commission Minutes 10/24/24 Page 2 state, city and other legislative updates. Washington State projects the need for approximately 1.27 million new housing units by 2044. Between 2019 and 2044, the city’s housing target is to grow by a total of 6500 units, at a rate of about 250 units per year; most of that growth is not expected to be middle housing. Following are some suggested middle housing changes from the work done with the previous PC and others: - The previous PC provided middle housing recommendations that included new ownership options, regulations to make middle housing development financially feasible and maintaining and improving community quality of life with new housing productions. - The public expressed their desire for broader housing options to support community needs, affordability in housing and for infill housing to provide frontage improvements. Neil provided background information on the state legislative requirements for HB 1110 and noted the requirement that jurisdictions allow six out of the following nine middle housing types: - Duplex - Fourplex - Townhomes - Stacked Flat - Fiveplex - Courtyard Apartments - Triplex - Sixplex - Cottage Housing He noted that other housing-related legislation has also been passed addressing different housing issues: - HB 1293 - objective design standards. - HB 5258 - condo reform and proportionate impact based on unit size. - SB 5290 - permit streamlining, which is required to be adopted by end of 2024 and which the city has adopted and will enact in October 2024. - HB 1337 - accessory dwelling unit allowances, removing ownership restrictions and restrictions on sale of individual units, adopted in Fall 2023. Middle Housing working code changes based on previous PC consultation: - Consolidation of Low Density Residential (LDR) and Medium Density Residential (MDR) zoning districts into new single Community Residential (CR) zoning district. - CR minimum lot size established as 5,000 sf. - CR cottage lot minimum proposed as 3,000 sf. - CR front setback established as 10 feet, instead of existing 20 feet for LDR. - Multiple units per lot depending on proximity to transit, affordability of units and lot size. Minimum required parking: - LDR currently requires two or more spaces per unit. CR proposes to require one space per unit. Several additional proposed changes: - LDR and MDR housing will be consolidated into a single zone, CR, as anticipated with the Comp Plan update. When the rezoning of those properties is completed, that change will match the Comp Plan destination and not require another Comp Plan Amendment. - Staff showed a land use chart that included a summary of the existing and proposed allowed uses for permitted dwellings. - Staff presented a proposed change to eliminate variable upper story step backs and an increase in the maximum height in the CR zone from 30 feet to 35 feet. - Changes to the height allowances standards based on Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority (PSRFA) guidance, providing opportunities for townhomes to be developed. Tree preservation on lots will be another consideration with incentives.