Kenmore planners outline anti-displacement options, debate mobile-home park preservation and STEP housing models

Kenmore, Wash. — The Kenmore Planning Commission on April 21 continued its update of the city's Housing Strategy Plan, pressing staff and consulting firm Arch on concrete steps to reduce displacement as the city increases housing density, and weighing whether to preserve, convert or phase redevelopment of manufactured-housing communities.

Todd Hall, principal planner for the city, opened the session and introduced Arch consultants Mike Stanger and Andrew Bjorn; Stanger told commissioners he plans to retire June 15 and said Arch will transition Bjorn into the project role. "My retirement date is June 15," Stanger said.

The commission prioritized two interlocking concerns: protecting residents of mobile-home parks and ensuring new affordable housing meets deep-need populations. Chair Banashinsky said Kenmore should "revisit our tenant protections" and consider options such as relocation assistance, community preference policies and community land trusts for mobile-home residents. "I was particularly interested in the relocation assistance that it mentions that Shoreline offers," Banashinsky said.

Why it matters: Kenmore's housing element directs higher density in parts of the city. Commissioners repeatedly…