Ruston holds public hearing on state-mandated Middle Housing update; council voices concerns about density and parking

The City of Ruston held a public hearing June 3 on Ordinance 1591, the Middle Housing land use update required by recent Washington state legislation. Kirsten Peterson, senior project manager with SCJ Alliance, outlined the Tier 3 obligations for Ruston, including allowing certain middle housing types, permitting up to two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on qualifying lots, and updating subdivision procedures and parking rules to comply with state law by the June 30, 2025 deadline.

"These laws require cities to update zoning to allow middle housing types and increased density in residential areas," Peterson told the council and audience while walking through definitions, proposed zoning-map changes, and ADU development standards. She also read the state's definition of a "major transit stop," which informs where parking exemptions apply under RCW provisions.

Councilmembers acknowledged the need to meet the state deadline but repeatedly questioned the local impacts of the draft code. Councilmember Hedrick said the legislation is "overly prescriptive given the small size of the City of Ruston," and asked where increased density would realistically locate in the city. Councilmember Jensen said the draft matrix appeared to allow uses she felt might be inappropriate in some transitional zones, noting in particular concern that charts in the draft seemed to permit sixplexes and hotels in areas near Pearl Street and warned that those allowances could exacerbate existing parking problems on streets such as Highland Street.

Rob White, Community Development Director, said the matrix largely reflects previously identified master-plan districts and existing conditional-use allowances. "When updating the land use matrix, much of the effort involved recognizing existing master development plans and assigning them district names and standards for clarity and consistency in future staff use," White said, and noted staff performed approximately 20 parking counts over the years to inform future work. He told the council staff prioritized meeting the state compliance deadline and plans a future ordinance to present more detailed parking data and zoning adjustments.

The council opened the record at 7:42 p.m. and closed the public hearing at 7:57 p.m. The ordinance returned as a first reading; the City expects to bring Ordinance 1591 back on second reading for adoption on June 17, 2025 to avoid the Model Ordinance taking effect. The hearing included public comments from local residents asking for clarifications about height limits, ADU setbacks from streets and alleys, subdivision handling, and required open space.