Planning staff flags housing shortfall, code topics and state funding prospects; commissioners form parking subcommittee

Planning staff told the commission on Feb. 5 that housing remains the department’s top concern for 2025, reporting decreased multifamily activity in 2024, high prices on the single-family homes that are being built, and several code and process items staff plan to pursue.

Andrea (planning staff) reported the department handled 87 agenda items in the previous year: 17 plats, five vacations, seven rezonings, four annexations, two code changes and other miscellaneous items. Staff approved 31 site plans last year; the department recorded “zero” multifamily completions in the immediate prior year and noted two attached developments (Haven Court and Kings Walk townhouses) produced units priced above $400,000. Staff said the typical target is roughly 250–300 multifamily units per year to match average community growth, and that last year’s drop is a concern.

Andrea and other staff described staff-level improvements: moving applications to the Camino permitting platform, a fire-hydrant painting program, neighborhood events and staffing achievements such as Sierra’s certified planner candidacy progress. Staff said they are exploring parking-code updates and other actions to reduce construction costs or barriers while acknowledging trade-offs such as maintenance and snow removal implications for alternative design choices.

On legislative matters, staff highlighted several bills of interest: a state housing development fund for infrastructure, the Housing Incentive Fund (HIF) aimed at affordable housing, and proposed nonconforming-structure language that would better allow rebuilding of qualifying preexisting houses. Staff said the city supports language that would allow insured, financially viable properties to be rebuilt if they meet safety and encroachment tests. Staff also noted broader bills on sidewalks, transit multimodal funding and data center policy.

Commissioners pressed staff on building-code questions, especially whether the city could locally amend sprinkler requirements for small multifamily buildings to reduce construction costs. Staff said that would be a local initiative requiring coordination with inspections, the fire marshal and the city attorney because changing the International Building Code locally carries liability considerations. Several commissioners suggested forming a working group; the commission also agreed to form a parking subcommittee and Commissioners Reichert, Budke and Matson volunteered to serve. Staff said they will follow up on potential committee membership and bring options in coming months.