Council holds workshop on code amendments and comprehensive-plan update; public hearing set for June 18

Planning staff presented the next package of code amendments and an overview of the 2024 comprehensive-plan update. Nicole (S3) described three buckets: legislative amendments (state-law compliance), general cleanup, and comprehensive-plan-related changes. Key items included making unit-lot subdivisions permanent, codifying a state change that limits required parking-stall widths (language in state law now prevents requiring more than 8-foot-wide stalls), incentives for pitched roofs in multi-family projects, encouragement of ADUs and duplexes on corner lots, and creation of a manufactured-home-park overlay.

Nicole said much of the heavy work had been done over the last several years as staff prepared the comp plan; the city completed an environmental-impact statement for the plan and the package includes a housing-needs assessment and a racially disparate-impact appendix as required by state guidance. The staff recommended scheduling a public hearing on June 18 to proceed with the amendments. Council members asked for clarifications on impact fees, setback flexibility for cottage/courtyard housing, and on permitting and design details for specific projects (examples included Oslo and Lincoln Cottage projects). Staff said they would bring an ADU/impact-fee package later in the year and that some items (like cottage-court incentives) remain a top priority for a future package.

Next steps: a public hearing is scheduled for June 18; staff will finalize amendment language and continue outreach via the city newsletter and public events.