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Kenmore council adopts $6/$8 per‑sq‑ft fee‑in‑lieu for middle‑housing affordability
Summary
The Kenmore City Council voted 4–2 to establish a fee in lieu of on‑site affordable units for middle‑housing in R4 and R6 zones: $6 per square foot for owner‑occupied units and $8 per square foot for rental projects, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Councilors debated economic feasibility, developer feedback and monitoring.
The Kenmore City Council voted 4–2 to adopt a fee in lieu of providing on‑site affordable housing units for middle‑housing in the R4 and R6 zones, setting the rate at $6 per square foot for owner‑occupied units and $8 per square foot for rental projects, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
City staff and a consultant told the council the fee is an alternative for fractional affordable‑unit requirements created by the city’s June ordinance implementing middle‑housing rules. Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Debbie Bent and planner Mike Stanger of the Regional Coalition for Housing presented the analysis and recommended rates.
The council adopted the fee after a presentation explaining the methodology for valuing an affordable unit, the range of prototype developments tested and sensitivity to market feasibility. "We recommend a fee per square foot for all the new…
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