Title
Housing Options Code Amendments - Briefing
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Discussion on staff responses to public comment themes regarding the draft housing options code amendments.
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:
In November 2019 the City Council referred three housing options to the Planning Commission for consideration. In its referral the Council directed the Commission to develop an ordinance that would implement at least two of the three options specified in the referral. The three housing options identified for consideration in Olympia were selected from a list of options outlined in RCW 36.70A.600 and are summarized as follows:
Duplexes on Corner Lots - Allow duplexes on all corner lots in all zoning districts that permit single family residences.
Duplexes, Triplexes, and Courtyard Apartments - Allow duplexes, triplexes, or courtyard apartments on each parcel in one or more zoning districts that allow single family residences.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Allow ADUs but do not require an additional parking space, do not require the property owner to live on site, and do not have a maximum size requirement less than 1,000 square feet.
In March of 2020 the State of Washington amended the housing options included in RCW 36.70A.600 (attached). These amendments went into effect on June 11, 2020. The revisions in state law affect two of the three options under consideration by the City.
The option about duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard apartments was expanded to include additional housing types, such as fourplexes, six-plexes, and stacked apartments. Staff is not proposing to add additional housing types to the proposed code amendments at this time.
The option for ADUs was separated into distinct options and the speci...
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