Title
House Bill 1923 Informational Briefing
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Discussion on the referral from City Council to consider development regulation amendments to increase residential building capacity.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
The 2019 Washington State Legislature passed, and Governor Inslee signed in to law, House Bill 1923 regarding increasing urban residential building capacity. The new statute amends the Growth Management Act (GMA, RCW 36.70A) and the State Environmental Policy Act (RCW 43.21C), as well as other statutes (RCW 35.21, 35A.21, and 36.22).
Section 1 of the bill encourages cities like Olympia that are planning under the GMA to take actions from an included list in order to increase residential building capacity. The list provides twelve options and cities are encouraged to use at least two of the actions.
At its meeting on November 19, 2019, the City Council referred this topic to the Planning Commission with a request that the Commission, "...draft an ordinance that is fully compliant with Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1923, and would implement two or three of the optional actions listed in ESHB 1923, Section 1, subsections (1)(c), (1)(e), and (1)(j)." Additionally, the referral states, "The Commission should ensure all procedural requirements are completed before recommending this ordinance to the City Council."
A summary of the three options (for full text see Attachment 2) Council referred to the Commission include:
* Allowing duplexes, triplexes or courtyard apartments in one or more zoning districts that permit single family residences
* Addressing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - with restrictions on off-street parking requirements, owner-occupancy requirements, maximum size, etc.
* Allowing duplexes ...
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