Intern presents housing survey: 100 renter responses; cost burden reported by about half

Planning intern Lily Reel presented the results of a housing survey and said 100 renter responses and 70 owner responses were collected. The survey found a range of monthly rents among renter respondents from roughly $550 to $1,500 and owner housing‑cost responses from about $400 to $2,800. Lily told the commission that roughly half of renter respondents were cost‑burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of income on housing.

Reel walked commissioners through demographic and preference data: respondents rated neighborhood experience frequently around an 8 out of 10 and identified cost, space and condition as the main housing concerns. Preferred housing types included single‑family homes, tiny homes and townhouses. Commissioners asked about survey reach and response rate; staff said most outreach was online and through partner organizations and that a full population denominator was not available, so response‑rate calculations are not precise. Staff and commissioners noted the survey results tracked with aggregate Census and third‑party housing‑research data on cost burden.

Commissioners thanked the intern for the work and discussed limitations, including seasonal timing that likely reduced student responses, and how the data will inform zoning and housing policy discussions moving forward. The commission said the survey will be a reference as they consider the zoning‑text changes discussed later in the meeting.