Committee advances middle-housing code cleanup clarifying unit-lot open-space and townhouse definitions

Holly Bosak, Planning Manager, presented code-cleanup amendments to Title 18 and Title 19 addressing recently adopted middle-housing standards and unit-lot subdivisions. The committee moved both items to first reading.

Key clarifications: For Title 18 (open space and recreation), staff proposed language to clarify that unit lot subdivisions are not subject to duplicate open-space requirements — the city will require usable open space for classic residential subdivisions but not require an additional open-space obligation when an applicant uses a unit lot subdivision process for six or fewer lots. Bosak said the intent is to avoid "double-dipping" where developers would otherwise be required to provide the same open space twice.

Title 19 changes include clearer definitions for middle housing and a change to an affordable-housing requirement: multifamily projects involving 25 or more dwelling units (not tied to a detached subdivision) must provide affordable dwelling units as part of the project. The middle-housing definition change clarifies that townhouses are considered middle housing only when proposed in the SE or RS zones; staff noted this resolves a conflict between two prior definitions.

Council members asked parking and unit-size questions and whether fee-in-lieu options for affordability could be considered; staff said the current amendments are clarifications and that fee-in-lieu approaches would be a separate policy discussion.

Process: The Planning Commission held public hearings in August and recommended approval; the items were forwarded to first reading on Sept. 16 with a potential second reading and adoption on Oct. 7.

Ending: The cleanups are intended to align code language with the state’s middle-housing mandate and with the council’s prior policy choices, reducing ambiguity for applicants and staff.