Title
Missing Middle Housing Analysis - Deliberations
Recommended Action
Discuss public comments and provide direction to staff regarding specific topics requiring additional information or revision to the draft recommendations.
Report
Issue:
Consider public comments on draft Missing Middle Housing code revisions, and recommendation to develop a methodology for impact fees and general facilities charges (GFCs). What additional information is needed by the Commission to develop its recommendation to City Council on this matter? Should revisions or alternative approaches be considered?
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, CP&D, 360.753.8206
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, CP&D 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, 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 directly implements several policies of the Olympia Comprehensive Plan, as listed on the Missing Middle web page on the City's website (Attachment 3). There are other policies in the Comprehensive Plan that also address issues directly or indirectly related to this project. The Plan calls for a balance of its goals and policies within context of the entire Plan, as stated in this excerpt from the Introduction section of the Comprehensive Plan:
At times, goals or policies may seem to be in conflict with each other. For example, a goal to increase density may seem to be in conf...
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