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Bothell planning commission studies broader incentives for affordable housing code
Summary
City staff presented proposed changes to the Bothell Municipal Code (BMC 12.07) to expand incentives for affordable housing, including possible shifts from voluntary to mandatory incentives; commissioners raised concerns about financing, design requirements, and infrastructure costs. No formal action was taken during the April 15 study session.
Senior Planner Ray Sosa told the Bothell Planning Commission on April 15 that staff is proposing a broader package of development incentives for the city's affordable housing code (BMC 12.07) and is seeking commissioner feedback before returning with detailed scales and pros and cons.
"Tonight, I'm here to talk about the proposed changes to our BMC 12.07 affordable housing code," Senior Planner Ray Sosa said, framing the study session as an informational step with no action required. Sosa said the city's comp plan shows nearly half of renters in Bothell spend more than 30% of their income on housing and that, in some cases, households pay up to 60% of income on rent.
Staff described a set of potential incentives'including height bonuses, reduced setbacks, changes to open-space requirements and process-focused incentives'that could be applied beyond existing small downtown overlays. Sosa said staff is exploring…
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