Title
Middle Housing Code Amendments - Public Hearing
Recommended Action
Move to recommend approval of the Middle Housing Code Amendments.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recommend approval of the Middle Housing Code Amendments.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, AICP, Planning Manager, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Planning Manager
Background and Analysis:
In 2023 and 2024, Washington State passed laws that require the City of Olympia to address middle housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and co-living housing in its development regulations. Implementing these new requirements means the City will need to adopt modifications to multiple Titles in the Olympia Municipal Code (OMC). The majority of the changes are to OMC 18.04, Residential Districts.
In an effort to help community members understand the types of changes that would be needed, CPED staff prepared information sheets for Middle Housing, ADUs, and Co-Living Housing. The intention is to highlight the primary new requirements of the bills with a focus on what is not already addressed in the OMC. A summary of each is as follows and the information sheets can be found on the project webpage (see Attachment 3):
Middle Housing
* The City must now allow more than one unit per lot on all lots zoned primarily for residential use
* The number of units allowed on a lot increases for affordable housing
* The number of units allowed on a lot increases within a certain distance of key transit types
* The City cannot require any standards for middle housing that are more restrictive than those required for detached single-family residences
* The City may apply development regulations that are required for detached single-family residences including, but not limited to, setbacks, lot coverages, stormwater, clearing, and tree canopy and retention requirements to ensure compliance with existing ordinances intended to protect critical areas and public health a...
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