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Committee approves ZTA 2604 to broaden mixed‑income expedited review and include 4% LIHTC projects
Summary
ZTA 2604 removes a 150,000 sq ft threshold in exchange for a higher minimum unit count (30→50) and adds 4% low‑income housing tax credit projects to the expedited mixed‑income review; Planning recommended approval and the committee voted unanimously to advance the amendment.
Chair Friesen explained ZTA 2604 aims to expand the county’s expedited review process for mixed‑income housing by eliminating a 150,000 sq ft threshold while increasing the minimum dwelling‑unit requirement from 30 to 50 and including projects that use 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). The intent, he said, is to encourage more affordable development and to enable projects that already use other affordable funding structures to qualify for expedited review.
Ms. Ndu summarized Planning’s assessment: eliminating the 150,000 sq ft threshold in exchange for a higher unit count should allow more appropriately sized affordable projects to qualify; Planning believes the county can handle the anticipated increase in eligible projects and estimated that this change could add two to three qualifying projects per year. The committee approved the ZTA as amended (vote recorded 3‑0) and adjourned.
Advocates and staff framed the change as a process improvement to lower costs and timelines for affordable and mixed‑income housing. The measure proceeds to the full council for formal adoption.
