HOUSING STRATEGY PLAN

Strategy

 Housing Element Policy

Priority

 A. REGULATORY APPROACHES.

1. Infill/Increased Capacity/ Housing Diversity. 

 b. Allow flexible reuse of tax-exempt or publicly-owned sites through a special process to increase housing supply and enable more diverse forms of housing, if linked to providing some affordable housing.

i. Possible opportunity at Park-and-Ride.

 d. Modify land use and building codes to maximize economical wood frame construction:

i. Allow 6-story wood frame construction. 

ii. Increase zoning code height limits.

Tier 3

H-1.2.7; 

H-3.3.3 

 g. Reduce number of projects subject to SEPA:

i. Expand projects eligible for categorical exemptions

ii. Complete planned action EIS for targeted neighborhoods (planning areas).

H-1.4.1;

H-3.3.3  

 h. Consider code amendments to facilitate rental property preservation: 

 i. Rental inspection program.

ii. Consider provisions to limit conversion of rental housing to condominiums.

 2. Support for Special Needs Housing.

 3. Affordable Housing.

 a. Consider expanding density bonuses, adding density transfers, and other methods with mixed-use and multi-family developments:

 i. Review and consider expanding density bonuses, including mandatory programs with increased development capacity in mixed-use and multi-family zones.

ii. Encourage layering local incentives to create greater affordability (e.g. MFTE w/ density incentives).

H-1.2.8;

H-1.4.2;

H-3.2.4 

 b. Consider strategies for preserving existing affordable housing: 

 i. Density transfers from affordable properties to areas where additional density has been proposed.

ii. Manufactured housing community overlay (e.g. Bothell).

 c. Accessory dwelling units: 

 i. Review current code provisions. 

ii. Review permitting process and fees / utility requirements.

iii. Clemency program to legalize existing ADUs.

H-3.3.2;

 H-1.3.2

B. DIRECT & INDIRECT ASSISTANCE. 

 1. Direct Assistance.

 a. Provide local funding assistance for affordable housing:

 i. Continue or expand use of city general funds.

ii. Dedicated local revenue source(s) for affordable housing

• Property Tax Levy / Portion of revenue resulting from new growth (e.g. construction sales tax).
•  New source authorized by state legislation (see regional/state initiatives).
• Local Voluntary Employers Fund.

 b. Explore ways to utilize existing and/or new funding programs to address local conditions.

 i. Target preservation and rehabilitation of existing manufactured housing and multifamily housing (including small properties).

ii. Funding to assist low- and moderate-income residents if displaced in existing manufactured or multifamily housing.

iii. Homeownership programs:

• Downpayment assistance program for first-time homeowners.

• Support for affordable ownership units such as land trusts, sweat equity (Habitat).

iv. Revolving loan fund to support 4% tax credits.

v. A revolving land loan program (REDI).

vi. Support development of emergency and permanent housing with services for homeless individuals and households.

vii. Fund infrastructure that supports affordable housing development (e.g. streetscape/park) 

viii. Funding for home visits, meals.

 H-3.2.5

H-3.1

H-3.1.2

H-3.2.5

H-3.2.1 

H-3.2.5

H-3.2.5

H-3.2.1 

H-3.2.5

H.2.1.3 

 c. Review permit/impact fees for affordable housing.

 i. Reduce development permit fees for projects with affordable housing

 2. Indirect Assistance

 b. Information/referral/outreach.

 i. Information to seniors regarding housing options; e.g., ARCH website, other efforts

ii. Accessory dwelling units: community education and outreach. 

iii. Promote use of weatherization programs.

v. Promote Universal Design awareness.

H-2.1.3

H-3.3.2

H-1.2.2

 c. Encourage residential energy and water efficiency as addressed in Utilities Element.

 i. Support water conservation programs of the NUD.

ii. Promote use of water conservation features in design or rehab of residential structures.

iii. Promote higher density and infill developments that are located near major transportation and transit links

iv. Encourage the rehabilitation of existing buildings as an alternative to demolition, where appropriate, to encourage the conservation of energy, building materials, and historic preservation.

H-1.2.4

U-4.1.1

U-4.1.3

U-4.3.4

U-4.3.5

 C. REGIONAL & STATEWIDE INITIATIVES.

 a. Promote housing repair/rehabilitation assistance (e.g., from King County) for homeowners and landlords.

 i. Participate in regional Universal Design rehab program. 

H-3.1.1

H-1.2.2

 b. Support various housing-related consumer protection programs. 

 i. Resources to tenants facing eviction due to temporary financial hardships (e.g. housing stabilization program).

ii. Foreclosure counseling/ assistance.

iii. Financial counseling/ first-time buyer classes.

H-3.1.1

H-3.2.5

H-3.2.5

Tier 1

Tier 3

 D. OVERSIGHT & MONITORING.

 1. General Monitoring.

 b. Monitor the range of affordable housing types and locations, how created, etc.

 i. Monitor impacts of local incentive programs (e.g. creation of affordable housing in TOD District Overlay zone, ADUs, fee waivers).

ii. Inventory existing rent-restricted assisted housing and affordable market rate housing.

iii. Review land use/building/fire code provisions and recommend amendments as needed to reduce development costs (without sacrificing adequate review, environmental quality, etc.)

 H-1.3.2;

H-1.1.3;

H-1.2.5;

H-3.3.3

 2. Monitoring of Specific Housing Issues.

 3. Monitoring of Previous City Efforts.

 a. Evaluate parking standards for multifamily housing (note—City allows parking studies to modify parking requirement): 

 i. Evaluate parking standards for affordable units created through land use standards.

 b. Housing options and services enabling seniors to stay in their homes or neighborhoods:

i. Permit group homes with supportive services. 

 ii. Review codes to ensure reasonable accommodation for adult family homes. 

iii. Monitor adult family home and group home licenses and capacity.

 e. Surplus land available for affordable housing:

i. Inventory of city-owned and other public property real property for potential suitability.

ii. Prioritize affordable housing integrated into proposals for development of publicly-owned properties. 

H-3.2.3

 H-3.2.1.a