Title
Approval of an Ordinance Amending the Municipal Code Chapter 5.86 Relating to the Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve on second reading an ordinance amending the Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 5.86 relating to the Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program (MFTE).
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve on second reading an Ordinance amending the Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 5.86 relating to the Multi-Family Tax Exemption Program (MFTE).
Staff Contact:
Darian Lightfoot, Director of Housing and Homeless Response, 360.280.8951
Presenter(s):
Darian Lightfoot, Director of Housing and Homeless Response
Leonard Bauer, Director of Community Planning and Development
Aaron BeMiller, Director of Finance
Background and Analysis:
There were no changes to the ordinance from first to second reading.
In January 2022, the City of Olympia sought proposals from qualified consultant teams for research and recommendations to forward objectives of Olympia's Housing Action Plan. The plan recognizes an urgent need for more housing supply in the City, including increasing the number of units affordable to low-income households. The City wants to structure its zoning, regulations and incentives in a way that encourages needed housing development.
The research study focused on the MFTE to help the City determine how best to structure the program and understand its effect on the likelihood of encouraging private sector development, including both market rate and low-income affordable units, and potential boundary expansion. Using the findings of the study, the City is recommending a policy pivot and structuring the exemption as an affordable housing development program. This will include a focus on incentivizing the 12-year program while deepening the affordability requirements and marketing other City development incentives to help the project pencil. If the develop...
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