Commission discusses state-backed overlay option to meet moderate-income housing plan; asks staff for draft language
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Summary
Planning staff introduced the state-recommended affordable-homeownership overlay (density-bonus) as a tool to meet the state moderate-income housing plan. Commissioners expressed support for drafting an overlay but asked staff to return with specific ordinance language and suggested potential areas for voluntary application.
Staff briefed the commission on a state-recommended zoning tool: an "affordable-homeownership" overlay that can be adopted by municipalities to provide a density bonus for for-sale housing in exchange for deed-restricted affordable units or other commitments. The overlay is one of several "menu" options the state encourages municipalities to include in their moderate-income housing plans to preserve eligibility for certain grants and to show good-faith compliance with the state27s housing-planning requirements.
Staff noted that adopting an overlay does not obligate the city to immediately apply it across the community; rather, it creates a clear, code-based option the city could use in rezones or development agreements. Commissioners discussed possible boundaries where an overlay might be appropriate (corridors, already-developing areas) and asked staff to prepare a draft overlay ordinance, examples of how density bonuses would be calculated, and suggested safeguards (size limits, required deed restrictions and enforcement mechanisms).
No action was required immediately; the commission asked staff to return with a draft ordinance for future review.