Coupeville planning commission recommends council adopt middle-housing and ADU code changes

The Coupeville Planning Commission on April 1 voted to recommend that the Town Council adopt proposed amendments to the town code that implement recent state middle‑housing laws and revise local rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), unit‑lot subdivisions and related zoning tables.

The commission’s recommendation follows a staff presentation and public hearing on draft ordinance materials that the planning director said were prepared under a Department of Commerce grant and a follow‑on local budget supplement. “Middle housing is not the fix for affordability here,” Joshua Inglerette, Coupeville planning director, told the commission, adding that the code updates are one tool among others to advance housing goals.

Why it matters: The changes aim to align Coupeville’s development regulations with state laws cited in the staff report (House Bill 1337, House Bill 1110 and Senate Bill 5258), set clear rules for ADU size and placement, and create a unit‑lot subdivision procedure that the town attorney advised must occur after final plat recording. The commission’s recommendation will go to the Town Council, which may hold a second public hearing before making a final decision; staff indicated the goal is formal council action in late May 2025.

Most important facts: Staff said the project began with a Department of…