New housing chapter adds anti‑displacement goals after multi‑jurisdiction analysis; staff cites 14,295‑unit need to 2045

Associate Planner Casey Scheffler presented the draft Housing chapter for the Olympia 2045 comprehensive‑plan update at the Oct. 14 study session, telling council the chapter incorporates two new technical products required or recommended by state law and recent regional work: the 2024 land‑capacity analysis (housing capacity/needs) and a multi‑jurisdiction housing displacement and racially disparate‑impacts analysis prepared by Uncommon Bridges.

Housing capacity and displacement findings

Sch effler told council the land‑capacity work and the housing needs analysis project that Olympia and its urban growth area will need approximately 14,295 new housing units by 2045 to accommodate projected population growth. He said the displacement analysis found Olympia is at particular risk for loss of existing low‑income homeownership alongside a shortfall of rental units affordable to very‑low‑income households and recommended policies to…