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Council reviews land-use chapter; staff proposes targeted rezones to add multifamily capacity
Summary
Planning staff presented the final-draft land-use chapter and land-capacity analysis, which finds Ellensburg must plan for 25,631 residents by 2046 (3,012 new housing units target) and proposes targeted rezones that staff estimates would add substantial multifamily capacity while leaving current entitlements intact.
Planning Manager Stacy Henderson presented the city’s final-draft land-use chapter and land-capacity analysis during the Aug. 3 meeting, explaining that state and county targets require the city to plan for 25,631 residents by 2046 — an increase of 4,834 from the 2020 baseline — and a housing target of 3,012 new units over the planning horizon.
To address lower-income capacity shortfalls identified in the analysis, staff proposed six targeted zoning changes to increase multifamily capacity without removing existing entitlements. Henderson said one large Area 1 rezone from Residential Suburban to Neighborhood Commercial Mixed Use would add an estimated 887 multifamily units under the methodology used; Areas 2–4 would convert targeted Commercial Highway parcels to mixed-use designations and add approximately 674 units. Henderson cautioned that planned floodplain purchases and other constraints slightly reduce some capacity estimates but concluded the city still has sufficient overall capacity under the land-capacity analysis.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the maps, parcel adjustments, and whether rezones are initiated by the city or property owners; staff confirmed the targeted rezones are city-initiated and intended to create options for multifamily development. Staff also said the city will conduct an Environmental Impact Statement and follow up with proposed development regulation changes to remove barriers to middle and multifamily housing.
