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Home My WebLink About02/04/2020 09 Recommendation to Council about Supporting Draft Housing Bill 2570 a\'4\lyy bxk ik 1 PPd +� PPP d g. P A 9 PPPPPP+Pd ' lii it tYlltYlA.\ta. BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 9. For Meeting of: February 4, 2020 ITEM TITLE: Recommendation to Council about Supporting Draft Housing Bill 2570 in Legislature SUBMITTED BY: Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager Joan Davenport, Community Development Director SUMMARY EXPLANATION: The City of Yakima was asked to submit a letter of support for a proposed Washington State Draft Bill (HB 2570). City staff has reviewed the draft legislation and offers a recommendation to the City Manager and to City Council: 1. The City of Yakima has taken recent actions to encourage development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)to help ease the demand for additional housing. However, we do not recommend support of this bill as it is currently submitted. 2. The issues related to Affordable Housing resulted in two important amendments to Washington State Law in 2019 in which the City of Yakima participated: HB 1604 and SHB 1923. 3. As a result of these two programs, the City of Yakima made significant regulatory modifications and updated the zoning code related to Accessory Dwelling Units; 4. Several of the proposed requirements in HB 2570 were discussed and rejected in the final draft adopted by the City of Yakima including the proposal to NOT allow a parking requirement forADU's; the restriction prohibiting most new or separate utility connection to an ADU; prohibition on connection charges to utilities; and specifications related to the maximum gross floor area, maximum height and other design issues. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: 2 Description Upload Date Type D Docommecriation Lc Council related to HB2570 112412020 Backup Material D Massage sent to City asking Mr supped cr1-15 2570 1/242020 Backup Material D Sample letter at"sign on"support for HB 2570 1r242020 Backup Material o Summary of Affordable'Musing Bills pending for 112412020 Backup Material Legislative Deves 3 MEMORANDUM To: Honorable Mayor and Yakima City Council Members From: Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager Date: Council Meeting on February 4, 2020 Subject: House Bill 2570 sign on request Purpose of the Memorandum At the January 21, 2020 City Council meeting, staff was directed to provide more information on the request to sign on to a form letter supporting House Bill 2570 1. Support Letter Request On January 15, 2020 a request was sent to Mayor Byers from a representative of Sightline Institute to consider signing a letter supporting HB 2570. 2. HB 2570 Staff Analysis and Recommendation House Bill 2570 requires the adoption of several standards related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). If HB 2570 passes and the City does not implement all required elements, we will be subject to legal challenge. Some of these standards are already met by current code such as allowing an ADU in all zones that allow a Single Family home and allowing a maximum ADU size of 1000 square feet. Other standards, such as a prohibition on parking requirements for ADUs were discussed at the Planning Commission level and not recommended for adoption. HB 2570 also includes requirements that limit plan review/permit fees and heavily restricts utility connection methods and costs, contrary to the Yakima Municipal Code. ADUs are very much supported by city code, having been first adopted in 2012. The Zoning Ordinance was heavily modified during the 2018 and 2019 update cycles to provide even more opportunities to allow ADUs throughout the City and the process has been streamlined by decreased levels of review and reduce development standards. 3. Recommendation While staff agrees with the findings in HB 2570 that outline the various benefits of ADUs related to environmental sustainability and housing affordability, the strict requirements of this bill cannot be supported at this time. Point of Information: There are several proposed legislative bills related to housing. Staff is in the process of reviewing these. Summary comments are included as an attachment to this agenda item. 4 From: Ben Stuckart<benstuckart@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday,January 15, 2020 3:51 PM To: Byers, Patricia Subject:ADU Legislation -Sign on request Mayor Byers My name is Ben Stuckart and I just finished 8 years as Council President in Spokane. I am currently doing work for Sightline Institute around Alternative Dwelling Unit (ADU) legislation. Having seen the housing crisis in Spokane up close I believe we should be doing as much as possible to increase housing options. During this year's state legislative session there is a house bill (HB2570) and a senate bill will be dropped regarding statewide regulations for ADUs. I am writing to ask that you consider signing on the attached letter. Short sessions move fast and the hearing on the house bill could come as soon as next week. Elected officials carry a lot of weight with the legislature and we would appreciate you signing on. If you want your name included just hit reply and let me know how you would like to be listed on the letter. If you would like more information let me know what I can do to help you. To learn more visit: https://www.sightline.org/2020/01J15Jwashington-takes-another-shot-at- ambitious-statewide-adu-reform/ For more on HB2570: https:J/app.leg.wa.govJbillsummary?BilINumber=2570&Year=2019 Thank you for your service to the community. Ben Stuckart benstuckart@gmail.corn 5 Re: [insert senate and house bill numbers here; when assigned] Dear Washington legislators; We are city and county leaders from all corners of Washington State. We see every day how housing shortages and lack of choice in our communities and neighboring cities and towns is putting extreme pressure on regional housing markets, making rents and purchase prices rise faster than wages. Dousing is taking up a larger and larger percentage of household income and many of our constituents are forced to longer, costlier commutes. We applaud the legislature for focusing on low-income housing by increasing funding for the Housing Trust Fund and passing HBIA06 during the 2019 legislative session. Subsidies for low- income housing are critical. But to he successful, and to truly support Washingtonians, subsidies must be complemented by solutions that also increase the variety of home choices and ensure abundant enough market-rate homes to keep prices attainable for all kinds households. One promising action other states have taken to address their housing shortages is removing barriers to accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Legislators in both California and Oregon passed statewide reforms to ADU policy within the last two years, and communities across each state are already seeing the benefits of this flexible housing infill solution. Backyard cottages, basement apartments, and mother-in-law suites add housing choices in established neighborhoods and offer: • Flexibility for all stages of life: ADLIs can help our elders age in place, our kids afford their first home; and our families support each other; • Economic and housing stability: More home choices near places people work builds economic security and stability; • Access: ADUs give more households access to our communities' amenities, like schools; parks, and libraries; • Affordability: ADUs offer more reasonably-priced rental options where otherwise there are only larger, more expensive single-detached homes. Unfortunately, even if a municipality permits ADUs, a myriad of local restrictions can make it nearly impossible for homeowners to actually build them. What's more, these restrictions differ from community to community. The result is that ADUs remain hamstrung and many households and communities are missing out on the benefits of these modest cottages. In this time of extreme pressure on our housing market, cities and counties need to band together to assure affordable choices for Washington households. We urge our legislators to set statewide guidelines for cities like ours, removing barriers to ADU construction in order to expand this housing solution for our communities, and across our state. Signed, 6 Bill Number Short Summary Yakima Comments ADU Bill - advocacy group circulating a "sign-Staff suggests City Council HB 2570 on" letter. Includes restrictions on local not submit a support letter control of fees, utilities, height, size, districts for this bill as it stands right now. Suport and incentives for cities that want to This bill has some positive HB 2343 pursue a greater variety of housing types in elements that may beneift single family neighborhood, such as Yakima. We should keep "missing middle" and ADU watching this one. Changes to Multi-Family Tax Exemption program to allow eligibility for smaller cities, HB 2620 extend the tax exemption for continued Staff supports this bill. affordable and extend ability to preserve existing affordable housing Mandates authorizing multifamily construction in single family zoning districts. SB 6536 Specifically allows a tri-plex on any lot in a At this point, staff does not SF zoning district. Prohibits regulations that support this bill as written. discourage development of housing such as unreasonable costs, fees or delays Modifies GMA Housing Element requirements to include density and Staff offers tentative HB 2687 support of this bill as housing type diversity to promote affordble written. housing