Committee hears housing study showing 1–2 person households dominate demand

Members of the Auburn Comprehensive Planning Committee reviewed a housing study Aug. 26 that committee members said shows a substantial demographic shift toward smaller households.

A committee member summarized the study’s headline: "70% of households are one- to two-person households," and members noted the community’s housing stock contains relatively few units sized for those households. Several members said the biggest shortfalls are senior housing and low- to moderate-income units.

Jeff Hyman praised the study’s breadth and urged the committee to move from report to action, saying the city should develop more targeted goals: "The next step for this is to work with the Council to adopt housing goals, which I think will be a really important input into the comp plan as we go forward here over the next 5 or 6 months," Hyman said.

Committee discussion focused on translating findings into specific policy tools and measurable targets (for senior housing, subsidized units and smaller market-rate units) rather than only accepting the study as an informational document. Members also noted that meeting the state’s housing goals will require continuing current development trajectories while adding strategies to close remaining gaps.

Next steps: committee members said staff and council engagement will be needed to convert study findings into adopted housing goals for the comp plan process; timing and specific targets were not finalized in the meeting.