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Council holds citywide inclusionary‑zoning rewrite for public hearing after extended procedural debate
Summary
A comprehensive zoning package to add an optional affordable‑housing bonus across multiple districts was the subject of prolonged committee discussion; planning staff agreed to provide educational materials and the committee voted to hold the bill for a public hearing so communities can review changes.
Committee members spent an extended session on a major zoning amendment (referred to in the packet as the inclusionary‑housing overlay and related base‑layer changes). Planning staff and the zoning administrator explained the changes, which would allow an affordable‑housing bonus in multiple base zoning districts, adjust development standards in specific public‑realm zones and, in some cases, permit additional height (sponsor cited up to 60 extra feet in certain districts).
Carolyn Ristau, zoning administrator, told members the planning office is "absolutely open to working with you to figure out the best way to to prepare materials, figuring out staffing so that we can help you reach out to your communities and explain what's in this bill." Members repeatedly asked for plain‑language summaries and for staff to attend neighborhood meetings before a public hearing; several members emphasized that the public hearing should not be scheduled immediately after recess so communities have time to meet locally. The committee voted to hold the revised substitution and schedule a cable‑cast public hearing so the public can review staff recommendations and planning commission conditions.
