Ivan City Planning Commission agrees to agendize discussion on attainable housing

After hearing the Chenille Cliffs preliminary plan, members of the Ivan City Planning Commission agreed to place a future agenda item on the city’s approach to supporting attainable housing.

Commissioners discussed a recent rezoning proposal that was the subject of a split 3–2 commission vote and subsequently sent to the City Council, where council members tabled it and requested a development agreement and redesign. Commissioner Dailey and other commissioners said the item is still under review at the Technical Review Committee and additional work is required before it returns to the council.

During the meeting, Commissioner Robinson expressed concern that adding detailed guidelines intended to foster affordable or attainable housing might increase development costs, saying the commission should avoid “putting guidelines and ridiculous things in their way that’s just raising costs.” The commission chair and other members emphasized transparency about roles: one commissioner spoke to the issue as a private citizen to clarify their prior vote.

Commissioner Clifford suggested using the phrase “attainable housing” for the future discussion. The commission did not adopt any new regulations at this meeting; members agreed to agendize a broader discussion of the city’s process for reinforcing and supporting attainable housing so it can be considered in a properly noticed session.

No timeline was specified for that follow-up agenda item, and commissioners and staff said further coordination among planning staff, the applicant for the rezoning, and TRC would occur before the matter returns to the council.