Committee discusses Commerce guidance on ADUs; members favor design standards over deregulation

Port Orchard staff told the Land Use Committee that the city's middle-housing ordinance, adopted in June and effective July 1, satisfied state requirements but that the Department of Commerce later sent suggestions specifically aimed at making ADUs more affordable.
Principal Planner Jim Pecan said Commerce's suggestions were framed as recommendations and staff included the Commerce email in the committee packet for review. "They indicated everything was up to par with the recent legislation," Pecan said, adding that Commerce later described its notes as "merely suggestions in in making ADUs more affordable."
Committee members expressed support for anything that responsibly increases affordability but repeatedly said design standards matter. "I really would hate to see unsightly boxes that don't meet design standards," Mayor Papa Pecanci said, arguing ADUs should "fit into the neighborhood" rather than undermine neighborhood character. Council Member Eric Warden and Chair Jay Rose Pepe agreed, noting there are distinct uses for ADUs — family or generational housing versus small rental units — and that retaining design requirements can preserve the look and social fabric of streets. Staff also noted the city's preapproved ADU plans have reduced upfront costs: the committee discussed an estimate that preapproved plans could save about $2,030,000 in aggregate (staff-provided figure in packet). Members said they did not see an immediate need to amend local code because staff and the city attorney believe the existing R-1 approach is correct; committee direction was to leave the code as adopted unless further issues arise.