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HomeMy WebLinkAbout012623 FW_ See you TONIGHT at the City of PT Planning Commission Meeting! ________________________________ From: Housing Solutions Network Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 4:30:25 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Greg Brotherton Subject: See you TONIGHT at the City of PT Planning Commission Meeting! ________________________________ ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. ________________________________ View this email in your browser. <https://mailchi.mp/48adcdcf48e3/join-us-at-planning-commission?e=b56e9d81e8> <https://mcusercontent.com/38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660/images/071863a1-5221-4566-aa00-321e6741f3c7.png> Just your friendly reminder for civil engagement from your friends at HSN! Join us tonight at 6:30pm for the City of Port Townsend Planning Commission Meeting. Meeting Details and Agenda can be found here <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=468cd2b32b&e=b56e9d81e8> <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=b389a8ef32&e=b56e9d81e8> Many of you have asked more about what HSN’s position is with regards to the Planning Commission and City Council proposed actions for the Tactical Infill Zoning Project for the City of Port Townsend. Below is the statement we are submitting tonight for consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council with regard to potential changes to our zoning codes. Please amplify our messages and concerns to our city policy makers. The public may attend tonight’s meeting at 6:30pm in Council Chambers or participate online. Planning Commission Meeting Details and Agenda can be found here <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=169d86d5ae&e=b56e9d81e8> . ________________________________ HSN Public Comment Submission for Planning Commission Meeting on January 26, 2023 HSN calls on the City of Port Townsend to ensure that any code changes that facilitate increased density will, above all, produce affordable housing now and in the future. HSN believes it is critical for our community to develop and execute a local strategy that addresses the full continuum of housing needs for affordable housing units, leading up to and including working households earning between 80-150% AMI ($59,120 and $110,850). This strategy should be informed by a robust public process that includes participation from residents whose voices have been historically marginalized. And the public should be provided the information it needs to contribute in a meaningful way to these important decisions. Before the city passes code changes, we ask for documentation that the City has done the research necessary to clearly demonstrate that any legislation enacted would not significantly increase the average value or purchase price of local property or risk endangering future efforts to foster affordability. HSN defines this sector of affordable workforce housing as housing attainable by working households in the city earning between 80-150% AMI ($59,120 and $110,850). We ask the City to document its research to show how each change will impact the supply of affordable housing as defined above. We urge the City to use this process as a jumping off point to develop a comprehensive housing strategy for our community and the Commission shouldn’t feel rushed to move draft amendments to the Council. HSN is pleased to provide the following recommendations regarding the process you are now engaged in - and for what we hope will be a City-led effort in the near future to develop a comprehensive affordable housing strategy. To achieve this, HSN believes the City of Port Townsend should consider the following recommendations and concerns: 1. Allow for the increase in housing developments of 5 or more units of housing and include a requirement for construction of one or more workforce units for every 5 units built. It appears to be economically feasible for for-profit builders/developers to construct 5-9 units with a requirement that 1 unit is affordable for the workforce; or construct 10-19 units with a requirement that 2 units are affordable for the workforce (and still maintain a reasonable profit). The city should focus on upzoning only where it is feasible to require workforce units as part of the upzone. The city should not upzone residential zones where it is not feasible to require that for-profit builders construct a workforce unit. Any code changes related to developments of 4 units or fewer should be considered after April 1st as those zones will require a more complex plan that will take time to put together and should not be rushed. 2. Allow housing units to be built in R3, R4, MC, and C (as separate or attached units), include a minimum density requirement of 5 units per minimum lot size for that zone, and require that 20% of those units are affordable for at least 50 years. The workforce affordability requirement could attract for-profit developers if additional incentives are provided. These could include the elimination of impact fees for workforce units, reduced permitting timelines and fees, reduced infrastructure costs for developments that include workforce units, and assistance with engineering. (As an example, the city could provide no or low-cost street, sewer, and water plans only for developments that include affordable units). a. Identify parcels in R2 that could be shifted into R3/R4 if they could meet the plan described above. Identify more R3/R4 parcels; especially those with proximity to other similar zones, transportation, schools, existing infrastructure, and planned infrastructure improvements. b. Establish a mechanism to ensure that the units go to local workforce members and are maintained as permanently affordable. Programs like land and housing trusts and deed restrictions should be allowed. In other communities, affordability models include contracting with nonprofits, employer-owned housing, or city-enforced mandates or incentives. 3. Do not upzone R1 and R2 until the City adopts a comprehensive affordable housing strategy. We have received anecdotal feedback from other communities that changes to their single family zones sparked land speculation and large price increases. If these unintended consequences occur in Port Townsend it will have a dramatic, negative impact on our community’s efforts to build affordable housing. Therefore HSN urges the City to evaluate the experiences of other jurisdictions and report its findings back to the community prior to making any changes to the R1 or R2 zones. Additionally, HSN believes any changes to R1 and R2 zoning should be made in the context of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy for the community. 4. Evaluate the risk of rental displacement in any density changes. The City should assess how its zoning changes may further displace renters in either the short- and/or long-term and how the City would propose to mitigate that issue, including as part of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy. Many in our workforce are renters, so we must ensure that changes in city zoning do not exacerbate displacement. 5. Enact zoning changes that allow for tiny homes, mobile homes, and alternative affordable housing developments within the city. The adopted changes should include a statement supportive of zoning changes that include tiny homes, mobile homes and alternative style affordable developments within the City. We encourage more ADU’s, including parcels that have duplexes. 6. Rushed decision-making on such complex issues is inherently risky. The city should ensure that it understands the dimensions of the affordable housing shortage, both in terms of existing housing stock and unmet demand for housing. The city should take the time to do the critical research (Housing Action Plan, Community Needs Assessment, and Land Inventory) and outreach (community and employer surveys) to guarantee that it is pursuing the best possible suite of solutions for Port Townsend. In order to reach community consensus and support for changes to be enacted prior to April 1, 2023 and for those that will follow as part of the City Comprehensive Plan update for 2025, what research and surveys has the City conducted to identify what housing is missing at what home or rental price points? If that research and survey has not and cannot be completed for the changes to be considered for April 1, then changes should either be deferred or implemented in a more restrictive approach to allow for course correction after April 1. In short, HSN supports increasing density in the context of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy for our community. ________________________________ Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please email us directly at HousingSolutions@jcfgives.org <mailto:housingsolutions@jcfgives.org?subject=City%20Council%20Meeting%2C%20November%207th> Thank you all again for your continued support of Housing Solutions Network and local efforts to produce and protect affordable workforce housing! In Community, Housing Solutions Network For more information on affordable workforce housing, visit us at: www.housingsolutionsnetwork.org <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=32d f241570&e=b56e9d81e8> <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=bb0cf3e4c8&e=b56e9d81e8> <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=90d5c4274c&e=b56e9d81e8> Copyright © 2020 Jefferson Community Foundation, All rights reserved. Housing Solutions Network is an initiative of the Jefferson Community Foundation <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=bc35ec55b5&e=b56e9d81 e8> . Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 1394, Port Hadlock, WA 98339 housingsolutionsnetwork.org <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=602e651c2f&e=b56e9d81e8> Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/profile?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> or unsubscribe from this list <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> . <https://mcusercontent.com/38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660/images/071863a1-5221-4566-aa00-321e6741f3c7.png> This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us> why did I get this? <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/about?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> unsubscribe from this list <https://housingsol utionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> update subscription preferences <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-mana ge.com/profile?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> Housing Solutions Network · PO Box 1394 · Port Hadlock, WA 98339-1394 · USA <http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral_marketing&aid=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&afl=1> <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=aa99c96ee5&e=b56e9d81e8> able housing units, leading up to and including working households earning between 80-150% AMI ($59,120 and $110,850). This strategy should be informed by a robust public process that includes participation from residents whose voices have been historically marginalized. And the public should be provided the information it needs to contribute in a meaningful way to these important decisions. Before the city passes code changes, we ask for documentation that the City has done the research necessary to clearly demonstrate that any legislation enacted would not significantly increase the average value or purchase price of local property or risk endangering future efforts to foster affordability. HSN defines this sector of affordable workforce housing as housing attainable by working households in the city earning between 80-150% AMI ($59,120 and $110,850). We ask the City to document its research to show how each change will impact the supply of affordable housing as defined above. We urge the City to use this process as a jumping off point to develop a comprehensive housing strategy for our community and the Commission shouldn’t feel rushed to move draft amendments to the Council. HSN is pleased to provide the following recommendations regarding the process you are now engaged in - and for what we hope will be a City-led effort in the near future to develop a comprehensive affordable housing strategy. To achieve this, HSN believes the City of Port Townsend should consider the following recommendations and concerns: 1. Allow for the increase in housing developments of 5 or more units of housing and include a requirement for construction of one or more workforce units for every 5 units built. It appears to be economically feasible for for-profit builders/developers to construct 5-9 units with a requirement that 1 unit is affordable for the workforce; or construct 10-19 units with a requirement that 2 units are affordable for the workforce (and still maintain a reasonable profit). The city should focus on upzoning only where it is feasible to require workforce units as part of the upzone. The city should not upzone residential zones where it is not feasible to require that for-profit builders construct a workforce unit. Any code changes related to developments of 4 units or fewer should be considered after April 1st as those zones will require a more complex plan that will take time to put together and should not be rushed. 2. Allow housing units to be built in R3, R4, MC, and C (as separate or attached units), include a minimum density requirement of 5 units per minimum lot size for that zone, and require that 20% of those units are affordable for at least 50 years. The workforce affordability requirement could attract for-profit developers if additional incentives are provided. These could include the elimination of impact fees for workforce units, reduced permitting timelines and fees, reduced infrastructure costs for developments that include workforce units, and assistance with engineering. (As an example, the city could provide no or low-cost street, sewer, and water plans only for developments that include affordable units). a. Identify parcels in R2 that could be shifted into R3/R4 if they could meet the plan described above. Identify more R3/R4 parcels; especially those with proximity to other similar zones, transportation, schools, existing infrastructure, and planned infrastructure improvements. b. Establish a mechanism to ensure that the units go to local workforce members and are maintained as permanently affordable. Programs like land and housing trusts and deed restrictions should be allowed. In other communities, affordability models include contracting with nonprofits, employer-owned housing, or city-enforced mandates or incentives. 3. Do not upzone R1 and R2 until the City adopts a comprehensive affordable housing strategy. We have received anecdotal feedback from other communities that changes to their single family zones sparked land speculation and large price increases. If these unintended consequences occur in Port Townsend it will have a dramatic, negative impact on our community’s efforts to build affordable housing. Therefore HSN urges the City to evaluate the experiences of other jurisdictions and report its findings back to the community prior to making any changes to the R1 or R2 zones. Additionally, HSN believes any changes to R1 and R2 zoning should be made in the context of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy for the community. 4. Evaluate the risk of rental displacement in any density changes. The City should assess how its zoning changes may further displace renters in either the short- and/or long-term and how the City would propose to mitigate that issue, including as part of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy. Many in our workforce are renters, so we must ensure that changes in city zoning do not exacerbate displacement. 5. Enact zoning changes that allow for tiny homes, mobile homes, and alternative affordable housing developments within the city. The adopted changes should include a statement supportive of zoning changes that include tiny homes, mobile homes and alternative style affordable developments within the City. We encourage more ADU’s, including parcels that have duplexes. 6. Rushed decision-making on such complex issues is inherently risky. The city should ensure that it understands the dimensions of the affordable housing shortage, both in terms of existing housing stock and unmet demand for housing. The city should take the time to do the critical research (Housing Action Plan, Community Needs Assessment, and Land Inventory) and outreach (community and employer surveys) to guarantee that it is pursuing the best possible suite of solutions for Port Townsend. In order to reach community consensus and support for changes to be enacted prior to April 1, 2023 and for those that will follow as part of the City Comprehensive Plan update for 2025, what research and surveys has the City conducted to identify what housing is missing at what home or rental price points? If that research and survey has not and cannot be completed for the changes to be considered for April 1, then changes should either be deferred or implemented in a more restrictive approach to allow for course correction after April 1. In short, HSN supports increasing density in the context of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy for our community. ________________________________ Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please email us directly at HousingSolutions@jcfgives.org <mailto:housingsolutions@jcfgives.org?subject=City%20Council%20Meeting%2C%20November%207th> Thank you all again for your continued support of Housing Solutions Network and local efforts to produce and protect affordable workforce housing! In Community, Housing Solutions Network For more information on affordable workforce housing, visit us at: www.housingsolutionsnetwork.org <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=32d f241570&e=b56e9d81e8> <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=bb0cf3e4c8&e=b56e9d81e8> <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=90d5c4274c&e=b56e9d81e8> Copyright © 2020 Jefferson Community Foundation, All rights reserved. Housing Solutions Network is an initiative of the Jefferson Community Foundation <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=bc35ec55b5&e=b56e9d81 e8> . Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 1394, Port Hadlock, WA 98339 housingsolutionsnetwork.org <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=602e651c2f&e=b56e9d81e8> Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/profile?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> or unsubscribe from this list <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> . <https://mcusercontent.com/38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660/images/071863a1-5221-4566-aa00-321e6741f3c7.png> This email was sent to gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:gbrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us> why did I get this? <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/about?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> unsubscribe from this list <https://housingsol utionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> update subscription preferences <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-mana ge.com/profile?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=cc2589998b&e=b56e9d81e8&c=aa99c96ee5> Housing Solutions Network · PO Box 1394 · Port Hadlock, WA 98339-1394 · USA <http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral_marketing&aid=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&afl=1> <https://housingsolutionsnetwork.us17.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=38123e1ad2608f9c4e51e6660&id=aa99c96ee5&e=b56e9d81e8>