Tumwater planning staff previews sweeping development-code updates to comply with new state middle-housing and ADU rules

Erica (planning staff) told the Planning Commission the primary focus of the update is to implement state-required amendments tied to recent housing legislation, which staff cited in the packet as "Senate Bill 55 58." "Senate Bill 55 58 removed the option to adopt our middle housing, our ADUs, our design review development code standard, 6 months after the periodic update," Erica said, and explained that the city must now have specific code language by the time of comprehensive-plan adoption.

The commission was given an overview of subjects staff will amend across Title 18 (zoning) and Title 17 (land division). Staff summarized key requirements as they understand them: allow at least two units per lot in residential zones (with a four-unit minimum in some cases when at least one unit is affordable), permit at least two ADUs per lot, permit a 1,000-square-foot ADU where the code previously limited ADU size to 800 square feet, and limit design-review and other standards so they are not more stringent for middle housing than for single-family homes. Staff also outlined new parking guidelines tied to lot size and reminded commissioners that common-interest instruments such as homeowner association covenants cannot be used prospectively to bar uses that state law requires be allowed going forward.

Commissioners…