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Ellensburg council adopts revisions to Land Development Code to encourage housing and update ADU rules
Summary
The City Council conducted second reading and adopted Ordinance 4953, amending Title 15 of the Land Development Code to implement accessory dwelling unit (ADU) updates reflecting House Bill 1337, create options for plat and binding site plan extensions, and add housing-related tools including density bonuses and parking adjustments.
The Ellensburg City Council on second reading adopted Ordinance 4953 to amend Title 15 of the City's Land Development Code, city staff said during the Jan. 20 meeting.
Dan Carlson, community development director, told the council the ordinance updates definitions and several chapters of the code to implement accessory dwelling unit provisions required by House Bill 1337, add tools to support the Housing Action Plan, provide options for extending plats and binding site plans, and make related cleanup changes. "The planning commission considered the proposed amendments at a public hearing on Nov. 14, 2024, and recommended approval with one revision that staff incorporated," Carlson said.
The ordinance also removes references to a transfer-of-development-rights program the city no longer operates. City staff discovered one additional reference to TDRs after first reading and struck it before the second reading, Carlson said. The amendments specifically revise Chapter 15.130 (definitions); Chapter 15.260 (subdivisions); Chapter 15.330 (density bonus incentives); Chapter 15.540 (housing type standards); and Chapter 15.550 (off-street parking).
Councilmembers conducted a roll-call vote on the second reading and adoption. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Beauchamp, Goodlow, Wilkoff, Miller, Palmer, Thompson and Elliot; the motion carried.
Why this matters: council staff said the changes are intended to implement recent state requirements for ADUs and to align local code with the city's Housing Action Plan strategies to increase middle- and missing-middle housing options.
The ordinance takes effect as provided in the ordinance language. City staff recommended the amendment as presented and will implement the code updates through the community development department.
