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City staff outlines middle‑housing code approach; seeks phased adoption and interim R7 ordinance
Summary
Planning staff presented a plan to fold middle‑housing rules into single‑family sections (R7/R15), propose cottage housing and require an affordable unit ratio; staff will seek an interim R7 ordinance at council and aims to return draft code to the commission next month with hearings in 2026.
Anita, a city planner, updated the Monroe Planning Commission on Nov. 10 about the city’s work to implement the middle‑housing requirements established by Washington House Bill 1110. "Middle housing is a range of housing types from duplexes to sixplexes, townhomes, courtyard apartments, and cottage housing," she said, describing the goal of allowing those uses in single‑family zones while keeping design standards compatible with neighborhoods.
Anita said Monroe is not required by law to adopt a middle‑housing code but is pursuing amendments to align with the Monroe 2044 comprehensive plan. Staff’s preferred approach is to integrate middle‑housing regulations throughout the city’s single‑family development code rather than create a separate chapter. She noted earlier consensus among commissioners on an affordable‑unit requirement for developments and a decision to maintain standard parking requirements rather than allow reduced parking for middle‑housing projects.
The planner recommended a phased rollout modeled on other cities: phase one to establish land‑use allowances (permit the uses), and phase two to coordinate public‑works and engineering standards to address utility and standards constraints. Anita also said the city previously adopted an interim R7 ordinance allowing townhomes that sunseted in October and that she will ask the city council to adopt another interim ordinance so developers can continue projects that rely on the R7 rules.
Commissioners asked whether density bonuses existed; Anita confirmed they would be part of the draft (particularly to offset open‑space requirements for cottage housing). She said staff has studied other cities’ solutions for utility and public‑works barriers and plans to bring a draft code to the commission next month, followed by work sessions and a public hearing in 2026. "So that's what we're planning to do for that," she said, urging more coordination with Public Works before finalizing standards.
No formal action was taken. Staff will return with a draft and with examples of development agreements (Monroe 30 was cited as a prior example) to help commissioners evaluate pros and cons.
