Middle‑housing code on an accelerated track: planning board hearing April 23, council target June adoption to qualify for grant

Planning staff updated the committee on progress to produce a middle‑housing ordinance to satisfy recent state middle‑housing requirements. Staff said the timeline was accelerated because of an upcoming state deadline on June 30 and to meet the requirements of a $25,000 Commerce grant (staff noted a Commerce grant deadline of June 25 for the city’s deliverables).

Key planning issues under consideration include grouping Edmonds’ seven RS (single‑family residential) subdistricts into three lot‑size groups (small, medium, large) for implementation, whether accessory dwelling units (ADUs) should be counted in unit density for middle housing, and whether select middle‑housing types (for example fourplexes or townhouses) should be limited to areas near transit or targeted areas meeting affordability or lot‑size criteria. Staff also noted the state statute allows local choices on which middle‑housing types to allow in specific areas and that not every middle‑housing form must be allowed everywhere.

The planning board is scheduled to hold a draft‑code public hearing on April 23 and to finish deliberation in May with a recommendation to council by mid‑May. Council discussion on May 27 and June 3 is planned, with a goal of adopting an ordinance by June 24 so the city remains within the state timeline and qualifies for the Commerce grant.

Ending: Staff emphasized that this phase is to meet statutory deadlines and that additional refinements can follow in later code phases. No committee vote was taken.