City planning staff told the Planning Commission on Sept. 10 that state law requires Anacortes to allow coliving housing wherever six‑unit (or larger) multifamily developments are permitted outright. Staff presented proposed code language defining coliving and proposed where it would be allowed in the city’s zoning map.

“Coliving is a residential development with sleeping units that are independently rented and lockable and provide living and sleeping space, and residents share kitchen facilities with other sleeping units in the building,” Planning Manager Libby Grama read from the draft terminology.

Under the draft, coliving would be permitted in residential R4 and R4A zones (where six‑plus multifamily units are already allowed) and in mixed‑use commercial zones where multifamily is permitted. Staff also noted one MS (manufacturing/shipping)‑zone exception limited to the Olsen property area where multifamily currently exists; that MS zoning carve‑out would disappear if a separate land‑use amendment approved by the commission and council changes the Olsen site zoning.

Grama said design standards used for multifamily developments would apply to coliving for site and building design; the proposal references the state building code for sleeping‑unit dimensions. Parking for coliving will be addressed separately in Division 6 of the code update, she said, adding that state law limits what cities can require for parking ratios for some of these new housing types.

Commissioners asked for clearer language on how the code will treat coliving for parking and design applicability. Grama said staff will add a specific parking category for coliving in AMC chapter 19.64 and will return clarified text in a future packet.

No vote was taken; staff will return revised language and the proposed parking standards for commission review.

Why it matters: the state‑level change expands housing types permitted by right in areas already zoned for multifamily, potentially increasing rental options and changing site design and parking needs in affected zones.

Next steps: staff to return clarified draft language on parking and any zone‑specific standards, and to reflect any Olsen property rezoning that alters MS‑zone applicability.