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Council hears staff briefing on HB 1110: 'middle housing' rules would require two units per lot, 4 with affordability; many details still unresolved
Summary
City planners told council that compliance with House Bill 1110 will require allowing at least two housing units on all residential lots in R‑1 and R‑2 zones and up to four units where one is affordable; staff identified key policy choices on nonconforming (substandard) lots, design standards, parking and a required unit‑lot subdivision option.
City planning staff outlined how University Place would implement House Bill 1110 (middle housing) at a Jan. 21 study session, and asked the council for policy direction on several unresolved issues, notably how the city should treat substandard lots and how to write design standards for new “middle housing” types.
Kevin Briski, Director of Community and Economic Development, told the council planning staff and the Planning Commission have been working for months on a draft ordinance and will hold a public hearing in March; the council must act by June or the state model ordinance could take effect. Briski said the briefing was to gather council feedback before planners return with formal recommendations.
Scope of the state law: Planning Manager Kenneth George explained the statute identifies nine middle‑housing types and requires jurisdictions to allow at least six of them; University Place staff are proposing to allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, stacked flats and courtyard housing in R‑1 and R‑2 zones. George summarized the other central provisions: the city must allow at least two…
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