Oak Harbor staff outlines state‑driven development code changes: ADUs, shelters, co‑living, parking and religiously hosted encampments

Oak Harbor planning staff on July 14 walked commissioners through a set of development regulation topics the city must consider to comply with recent state legislation, including accessory dwelling units, emergency and supportive housing, co‑living, parking standards, childcare rules and provisions for outdoor encampments hosted by religious organizations.

Kat Kamak, principal planner, said some state bills require cities to treat certain housing types the same as other residential uses and to list them explicitly in local codes. “The house bill says that these type of shelters are supposed to be allowed wherever hotels are allowed,” she said, adding that permanent supportive and transitional housing should not be subjected to more onerous permitting than comparable residential units.

On ADUs, Kamak summarized state guidance that cities should allow at least two ADUs per single‑family lot (attached, detached, or conversion), remove owner‑occupancy requirements, cap related impact fees at 50% of the principal unit, and permit detached ADUs up to roughly 1,000 square feet. She said Oak Harbor’s current detached ADU limit is about 600 square feet and staff will clarify size and other code provisions so local regulations align with the statute.

Kamak also explained co‑living (lockable sleeping units with shared kitchens) and state direction on how to count such units toward density, noting the state counts bedrooms at 0.4 units per bedroom for density calculations and generally allows co‑living where multifamily (6+ unit) zones permit it. Commissioners asked whether any co‑living applications exist; Kamak said there have been inquiries but no permits yet.

Parking policy changes were also discussed: qualifying affordable housing projects may not be subject to minimum off‑street parking requirements; ADU parking may be capped in certain circumstances; and the state encourages accepting nontraditional surfaces like grass pavers or existing gravel in some cases to reduce demolition or tree removal. Commissioners raised follow‑ups about how HOAs might impose stricter rules and whether Oak Harbor meets population thresholds for additional state mandates.

Religious organizations hosting outdoor encampments generated questions about definitions and local controls. Kamak said the state language allows hosting for at least six months and limits city ability to impose short duration caps; commissioners sought clarity about who qualifies as a religious organization and whether ownership or control of land matters. Kamak said staff will research definitions and how state law interacts with local zoning and public‑safety requirements.

What’s next: staff will incorporate commissioner feedback, clarify definitions in code where needed, check whether the city tracks existing ADUs or shelters, and return with draft code language after the draft EIS is available. The commission did not adopt any code changes at the July 14 meeting.