Issaquah planners propose flexibility allowing developers to combine private and common amenity space for multifamily buildings

Kristen Leeson, principal planner for the Community Planning and Development Department, told the Planning Policy Commission on May 8 that the city is proposing several Title 18 policy amendments, the most substantive of which would let multifamily developers combine unit-level private amenity requirements with common amenity space so long as at least half the units retain private amenity areas.

The change would not reduce the total amount of amenity space the code requires, Leeson said: "what we're proposing is not to change the amount of open space and amenity space that's required, but to allow developers to combine ... as long as 50% of the units still have that private amenity space." Under current standards discussed at the meeting, Issaquah requires 100 square feet of common amenity space per unit plus 48 square feet of private open space per unit, a combined 148 square feet per unit that the proposal would allow to be consolidated for some units.

Commissioners and staff…