Title
Proposed Regional Housing Allocations for Thurston County Briefing
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on proposed regional housing allocations for Thurston County as required by the Washington Growth Management Act (GMA).
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on proposed regional housing allocations for Thurston County as required by the Washington GMA.
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Director, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8206
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Director, Community Planning and Development
Allison Osterberg, Planning Manager, Thurston Regional Planning Council
Michael Ambrogi, Senior Planner, Thurston Regional Planning Council
Background and Analysis:
A Briefing on proposed regional housing allocations for Thurston County as required by the GMA. The GMA requires that the housing element of each city or county’s comprehensive plan “identifies the number of housing units necessary to manage projected growth, as provided by the department of commerce, including:
(i) Units for moderate, low, very low, and extremely low-income households; and
(ii) Emergency housing, emergency shelters, and permanent supportive housing.” (RCW 36.70A.070(2)(a)).
Staff will review a proposed methodology for allocating the WA Department of Commerce projected housing needs for Thurston County to each jurisdiction.
In 2021, the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1220 amending the GMA. It requires cities, towns, and counties to “plan for and accommodate” future housing affordable to a range of incomes and to document the projected housing need each jurisdiction is planning for in its comprehensive plan. The Washington State Department of Commerce identified the countywide housing need by income range and recommended cities, towns, and counties work collaboratively to allocate the countywide housing need to individual jurisdictions.
In 2023, Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm (the “project partners”) contracted with Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) to:
• Convene a workgroup consisting of planning directors and staff from the project partners. Staff from the city of Rainier, city of Tenino, and town of Bucoda were also invited to participate.
• Review options for allocating the housing need among jurisdictions.
• Facilitate a process among workgroup members to reach consensus on a preferred allocation method that meets the values of the project partners.
The attached TRPC technical memo documents the housing need allocation process and the workgroup’s recommended allocation method.
Following briefings to the elected officials of each city and Thurston County, the recommended allocation method will be presented to the Thurston Regional Planning Council for acceptance. Attached is a draft cover letter to transmit the recommended allocation method to the Thurston Regional Planning Council.
Olympia’s housing allocations, if accepted, will be incorporated into the housing chapter work plan for the update of the 2025-2045 comprehensive plan. The process for updating the housing chapter is expected to take place during 2024.
Climate Analysis:
The regional housing allocation methodology is not expected to directly affect Olympia’s ability to address climate change impacts. As it is incorporated into the city’s comprehensive plan update, it will be part of the plan’s overall policies to provide for infill housing in a denser urban pattern over the next twenty years. This will create greater opportunities for non-motorized modes of transportation, contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Equity Analysis:
HB 1220 explicitly requires Washington cities and counties to plan for housing for each economic segment of its projected future population. It also requires planning for emergency shelter facilities and multiple types of special needs housing. This regional allocation method will help ensure housing plans address the needs of all residents in Thurston County.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
All residents of Olympia have an interest in housing that is affordable at their income level. The regional housing allocations project the need for housing at each income level, which will be the basis for Olympia’s 20-year housing policies as part of it’s comprehensive plan.
Financial Impact:
The regional housing allocation work group process has been accomplished through an intergovernmental agreement with TRPC. Each jurisdiction provided an equal share of $5,625 under this agreement.
Options:
1. Receive the briefing.
2. Do not receive the briefing.
3. Receive the briefing at another time.
Attachments:
Technical Memo
Draft Letter to TRPC