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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 $810,000 and a city median household income of roughly $91,967.
Snyder outlined the potential benefits: lower per-unit costs on infill parcels, gentle density that fits neighborhood scale, increased options for first-time homebuyers, and the ability to serve a range of incomes. He also identified common barriers: zoning that currently disallows many missing-middle types, the way building-code thresholds can force multiunit projects into commercial standards, and financing challenges for smaller developers.
Councilmembers asked practical questions about design standards, parking expectations, and how the city might support smaller-scale builders. Several councilmembers expressed support for including missing middle tools in the city’s planning toolbox. Council Member Martinez urged proactive stakeholder outreach, asking staff to consult local builders, the building-industry association and community groups; another councilmember recommended learning from Sacramento’s multi‑year community process.
Public comment supported the idea but stressed guardrails. Laura Hunter urged the council to couple any missing-middle strategy with an inclusionary housing policy and to avoid siting housing within 500 feet of freeway emissions, citing state guidance on sensitive‑receptor siting.
Snyder emphasized that the workshop was informational: no action was requested. He recommended community engagement, outreach to stakeholders including smaller developers, and follow-up analysis on zoning changes, objective design standards and potential financial or regulatory incentives. Councilmembers directed staff to pursue further stakeholder discussions and flagged the general plan and zoning updates as likely vehicles for any policy changes.
Next steps: staff will return with a recommended engagement program and options for regulatory changes, including objective design standards and potential fee or streamlining incentives for smaller builders.
