City addresses need for more housing
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The city is soliciting proposals to aid in the development of updated comprehensive plan policies, development codes and zoning regulations.
The move will help the city meet requirements under house Bill 1110 for housing types, city Planning Director Heather Trautman said.
“The city and consultant will be to establish the development a citizen advisory committee to guide the housing discussions, as well as announcements of other public engagements in 2024 as these documents progress,” she said.
When asked what prompted the city to seek assistance from consulting firms, Trautman said:
“The City is required to comply with provisions of HB 1110 by 2026. The grant funding from the Department of Commerce became available for use in 2024 to assist local agencies with meeting these requirements.”
The city has successfully secured grant funding to undertake this initiative, Trautman said.
“The City is seeking qualified firms with experience in developing housing policies, development standards, missing middle housing types, and to assist the community in navigating the options and strategies to increase housing variety and availability.”
Airway Heights is already in the process of establishing a citizen
advisory committee, she said
“Under HB 1110, the city is required to create the opportunities for missing middle housing,” she said.
“Will property owners choose to utilize this type of housing for development of their property?”
Middle housing is defined as newer forms of housing in typically single-family neighborhoods and zones. It includes “townhomes or ‘row houses’, clustered housing (single-family housing on small lots with shared amenities), and duplexes to courtyard apartments,” Trautman said.
“HB 1110 also requires the allowance of two homes per lot in areas predominantly single-family, the implementation of this requirement will allow for accessory dwelling units or ‘granny flats,’ which is a second home on a lot either as a separate dwelling or within the primary dwelling,” she said.
“Our community, region and state need additional housing and the state legislature adopted HB 1110 to address the demand.”
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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