Title
Missing Middle Housing Analysis Update
Recommended Action
Receive briefing and discuss additional public outreach; set public hearing date(s).
Report
Issue:
What public outreach process to use to reach additional people; when to set public hearing date(s) for the Missing Middle Housing Analysis recommendations.
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, CP&D, 360.753.8206
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, CP&D
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, CP&D
Background and Analysis:
The term 'Missing Middle' refers to a range of multi-unit housing types that are compatible in scale with single-family homes. In other words, they provide 'middle' density housing. There have been relatively few of these types of housing constructed in Olympia (and nationwide) over the past 40 years compared to single-family homes - thus, they are referred to as 'missing.' Some examples of missing middle housing types include tiny houses, modular units, cottage homes, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, small multi-family apartments, and accessory dwelling units.
The Missing Middle Housing Analysis implements several policies of the Olympia Comprehensive Plan, as listed on the Missing Middle web page on the City's website (Attachment 1). The web page also contains detailed information on the review process and draft recommendations. The analysis has reviewed existing city regulations - such as zoning, permit fees, development standards, utility connection charges, etc. - for potentially disproportionate effects on the ability to provide for a variety of housing types in the City's low-density, residentially zoned areas. A summary of the public outreach methods to date is included as Attachment 2. Attachment 6 includes a summary of the comments received on each individual recommendation through the comment surveys on the Missing Middle webpage.
The Planning Commission has received numerous briefings on this project throughout 2017 and early 2018. Pl...
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