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Council explores 'missing middle' housing as one tool to expand choices
Summary
City staff and council held a workshop on so-called "missing middle" housing — duplexes, triplexes, cottage courts and townhomes — as a tool to add moderate-density home-ownership options. Staff emphasized community engagement, zoning changes and objective design standards; councilmembers generally supported exploring the approach while urging industry and neighborhood outreach.
Councilmembers and staff devoted the meeting’s lengthiest discussion to "missing middle" housing, a planning category that includes duplexes, triplexes, courtyard cottages and low-rise townhomes.
Kevin Snyder, director of development services, opened the workshop by saying missing middle housing is "more housing choices at its core," and framed the approach as one component of a broader toolbox to address regional housing shortages and steep local costs. Snyder cited national data showing falling housing production since 2021 and local figures that demonstrate the affordability gap in Escondido: a December 2025 median sale price of about…
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