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Sequim report: consultants say city needs more housing, zoning fixes and to plan for tourism seasonality
Summary
Leland Consulting Group told the Sequim City Council and Planning Commission that Sequim needs new housing to meet state targets, faces barriers including high impact fees and permitting complexity, and has economic opportunities in tourism, health care and specialized manufacturing; staff and commissioners were directed to begin code changes and public outreach.
Leland Consulting Group presented a housing and economic analysis to the Sequim City Council and Planning Commission on Nov. 17, urging the city to expand housing options, streamline development rules and prepare for seasonal tourism demand.
The report, presented by Andrew Oliver and a Leland colleague, found that Sequim’s homeownership rate is roughly 60% and that the city’s housing market has a very low multifamily vacancy rate of 0.9%, indicating substantial unmet demand for rental units. "We're trying to help understand what are the opportunities for economic and housing growth over the next 20 years," Oliver said, summarizing the firm’s scope and recommendations.
Why it matters: the consultants told elected officials the city needs more diverse housing types and regulatory changes to meet state housing targets and accommodate workers in a tourism‑driven local economy. The report estimates Sequim must add roughly 1,850 new housing units by 2045 to meet state targets (reported in the presentation as "18 50"). Leland recommended encouraging multifamily construction to produce many…
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