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Edmonds holds public hearing on interim "step housing" ordinance required by state law
Summary
City staff presented an interim ordinance to allow permanent supportive, transitional and certain emergency housing where residential or hotel uses are allowed, and held a public hearing with no public speakers. The council will draft a longer-term code for consideration in coming months.
City planning staff summarized an interim ordinance to allow "step housing" — an acronym the city uses for permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency housing and emergency shelters — in zoning districts where residential dwellings or hotels are allowed.
The presentation said the interim ordinance was adopted to meet requirements in state law and to provide a temporary regulatory framework while staff and the planning board draft a longer-term ordinance. "State law required cities to deal with this by the end of 2024," the presenter said, describing the interim code as a time-sensitive compliance measure and noting that interim regulations may be in effect no more than six months without further council action.
The interim code, as explained, allows permanent supportive and transitional housing where residential dwelling units or hotels are allowed, and allows indoor emergency housing and indoor emergency shelters in zones where hotels are permitted. Staff also emphasized that nuisance and criminal behavior by residents remain subject to full enforcement and that the interim code does not prevent eviction for unsafe actions.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The council will collect the record from the public hearing and incorporate community input and planning-board recommendations into a longer-term ordinance the council expects to consider in roughly three to four months; staff projected a potential council decision on a permanent code around April.
Planning staff said the interim ordinance triggers a 60-day public-hearing requirement and noted that the interim measure can be replaced by a new permanent code if adopted later. The presenter also said the planning board will review the draft and make a recommendation to the council.
The public hearing was opened and closed with no in-person or remote commenters. Council business then moved on to other agenda items.
