Council approves Matco affordable‑housing sector‑plan amendment and rezoning to allow about 180 units, including supportive housing vouchers

Council approved an ordinance amending the East City sector plan and rezoning property on Nora Road from open‑space to medium‑density residential (and RN‑1 to RN‑5 zoning) to enable an affordable housing project proposed by Matco Affordable Housing.

Ben Mullins, representing the applicant, told council the project would add roughly 180 affordable housing units, including about 60 mainstream vouchers earmarked for ADA permanent supportive housing, and that the team expects to use 6–7 acres for building footprints with the remainder placed under a conservation easement. Mullins said neighborhood engagement has occurred and the developer will address road improvements identified in a traffic impact analysis during permitting. "I think this makes a lot of sense," Mullins said, noting prior similar projects had conserved portions of sites while developing the most suitable area.

Council members asked planning and staff questions about hillside protections, traffic impacts and permitting responsibility. Planning staff explained that slope analyses are included in rezoning case files and that a "recommended disturbance budget" identifies the acreage or percentage of hillside that can be disturbed; final permitting (including any blasting or retaining walls) would be reviewed by plans review and inspections and subject to code requirements.

Vice Mayor Fugate moved to consolidate items 13p, 13q and 13r into a single vote; the consolidation carried and council then approved the consolidated matter. Council members cited the project's affordable units and commitments to preserve parts of the site as reasons for support. The motion to approve carried (voice vote recorded in the transcript).