Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Design Standards Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Student memos prompt debate over downtown design rules and housing incentives
Summary
Two Western Washington University student teams gave memos proposing clearer downtown design thresholds and a package of affordable‑housing incentives (density bonuses, lot‑coverage relief, tax exemptions); commissioners praised the work but asked staff for deeper analysis and local tailoring.
Staff presented two student memos from Western Washington University that recommended changes to downtown design standards and offered incentives to encourage affordable housing. The presentations were informational; the commission did not vote.
Design standards memo: Students proposed clearer, objective thresholds so minor changes (for example, paint or small repairs) would not always trigger design‑review permits. Their options included square‑foot thresholds for when review is required, exemptions for minor exterior work, or tying review triggers to a percentage of appraised value. "If you're just throwing a slap of paint on the front of your building... we're not gonna require a permit for that," the planner summarized the student recommendation. Commissioners agreed a clearer threshold could reduce code‑enforcement burdens downtown but disagreed on which jurisdictions the students used as benchmarks.
Affordable‑housing memo: A separate student group suggested clarifying a permanent‑affordable definition (for example, tying it to 60% AMI), offering density bonuses and waiving certain site requirements for qualifying projects, exploring tax‑exemption programs (MFTE) and considering conversion of motels and other targeted pilots. Staff said these were starting points and would require more analysis and budget discussion.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to take a deep dive on selected recommendations, retain Sedro‑Woolley's local design standards where they make sense and return with more detailed proposals for incentives and legal mechanics. The planning commission invited written comments ahead of the July 21 meeting.
