Bothell planning commission studies expanded affordable-housing tools, seeks incentives over mandates

City of Bothell planners briefed the Planning Commission on June 18 on potential amendments to the city’s affordable-housing code, possible expansions of zones subject to mandatory requirements and proposals for middle-housing changes; no formal action was required or taken.

Deputy Community Development Director Gates said staff were presenting options and “there is no action required tonight. We're just planning on providing planning commission some information about the affordable housing code and potential amendments, in order to get some feedback from y'all.” The session focused on how to meet the 20-year housing-capacity and affordability goals in the city’s 2024 comprehensive plan and on a menu of incentives that could be paired with mandatory requirements.

The discussion followed earlier council and commission briefings. Staff summarized key numbers from the housing strategy: Bothell needs capacity for 12,782 new homes over 20 years, and staff estimated about 9,550 of those units (more than 75%) would need to be affordable to households earning 80% of area median income or less to meet the plan’s affordability targets. Staff also reported 92 residential certificates of occupancy issued so far this year — about 1% of the 20-year target — and that none of those projects contain deed…