Committee refers University Boulevard overlay ZTA after adding workforce-housing and MPDU language

The Planning, Housing and Parks Committee voted 2-1 to refer Zoning Text Amendment 25-12, which creates a University Boulevard overlay zone, to the full council after adopting workforce-housing and technical amendments.

Ms. Nadeau summarized the ZTA’s purpose: to implement recommendations from the University Boulevard Corridor master plan by establishing an overlay that permits accessory dwelling units in CRN, allows CRN properties to include certain nonresidential uses consistent with R-60 standards, prohibits auto-centric uses such as gas stations and drive-throughs, and requires on-site parking behind the front building line to promote a pedestrian-oriented corridor.

Planning board technical edits adopted by the committee included changing a 35% "lot coverage" reference to "site coverage" and specifying the duplex building type used for smaller sites. The committee also adopted a workforce-housing amendment proposed by Chair Friesen and Councilmember Fanny Gonzalez: properties with three or more units must include at least one workforce housing unit or 15% of total units, whichever is greater, and DPS may not issue a building permit until DHCA signs a written workforce-housing agreement consistent with chapter 25.

Councilmember Madrona voiced concerns about displacement and said a stronger trigger (for example, every two units instead of every three) would produce more affordable units; other members said the committee was choosing incremental progress over perfection and supported the adopted language.

Staff and a planning supervisor explained that chapter 25A already allows master plans to require up to 15% MPDUs and that including explicit 15% MPDU language in the overlay makes the expectation clear across the entire plan boundary, consistent with practice in other overlay zones.

By a 2-1 vote the committee referred the amended ZTA to the full council for consideration.