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Council leans toward 4‑units‑per‑lot/Kent model, asks staff to draft middle‑housing and ADU ordinance
Summary
Planning staff asked the Committee of the Whole for policy direction on implementing state middle‑housing and ADU laws; councilmembers generally favored a Kent-style density approach (4 units per lot or 24 units per acre) and asked staff to count ADUs toward lot maximums while exploring a cap to encourage cottage housing.
Planning and Development Services Manager Lawrence Chico and Community Development Director Rebecca Deming briefed the Committee of the Whole on draft code changes intended to implement recent state legislation on middle housing and accessory dwelling units.
What staff said: Chico summarized the state requirement to permit a set of middle‑housing types (including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and cottage housing) in single‑family and lower‑density multifamily zones and noted the city must adopt regulations by June 30 or the state model ordinance will take effect. The packet presented three policy questions: (1) maximum unit density per lot, (2) minimum and maximum unit sizes for different housing types, and (3) parking requirements.
Council direction and discussion: - Density: Staff proposed several ways to implement density limits, including the city of Kent’s approach — a flat minimum of 4 units per lot or an equivalent 24 units per acre — which several councilmembers favored. The Committee indicated consensus (head nods) to pursue the Kent model (4 units per lot / 24 units per acre) as a working policy to carry forward. - ADUs: The state ADU bill discussed at the meeting requires at least two ADUs to be permitted per residential lot. Councilmembers directed staff to count ADUs toward a lot’s unit maximum. Staff proposed (and council discussed) capping the number of ADUs (for example, 3) so larger clusters would be developed as cottage housing rather than as many ADUs on a single lot. - Unit sizes and parking: Staff described proposed size ranges (discussed moving ADU maximums from 800 to 1,200 square feet in the draft, and potential overlapping size bands for cottage housing) and noted parking requirements are still under review with building and transportation divisions. Councilmembers asked for clarity about how setbacks, irregular or substandard lots, and critical areas affect buildability; staff reiterated state ADU provisions allow conversions and some setback flexibility (e.g., alley access exceptions) but not wholesale setback waivers.
Why it matters: Cities must adopt implementing regulations quickly to avoid imposition of the state model ordinance. The council’s choices will affect lot capacity, housing type mix, design outcomes, and which development forms (ADUs, cottage housing, townhomes) are incented.
Next steps and timing: Staff said it will prepare a draft ordinance for public hearing; council indicated support for bringing the draft back rapidly (staff mentioned returning as soon as next week, and noted the June 30 compliance deadline).
