2014/04/09 Council Agenda Packet

• . EVERETT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET PR 1 C ! TITLE:An ))rdin pace Amending 4/9/14 BriefingCOUNCIL BILL ?2N2C-c) Ord •anc I No. 1671-89 (EMC Proposed Action Originating Department Planning Title i 7� as amended,with the Consent Contact Person Allan Giffen Addition of a Section Entitled Action Phone Number (425)257-8725 "Unit Lot Subdivisions"and Amending Other Related 4/9/14 First Reading FOR AGENDA OF 4/9/14 Sections the Zoning Code. 4/16/14 Second Reading 4/16/14 4/23/14 Third•Reading 4/23/14 4/23/14 Public Hearing • Initialed by: • Department Head �'✓ CAA Council President - Si� Location Preceding Action Attachments Department(s)Approval • None Planning Commission Ordinance.Planning Planning,Legal Recommendation 2/4/14 Commission minutes provided separately. Amount Budgeted -0- Expenditure Required -0- Account Number(s): Budget Remaining -0- Additional Required -0- DETAILED SUMMARY STATEMENT: The Master Builders Association(MBA)of King and Snohomish County asked the City to initiate amendments to its land use regulations to allow the subdivision of townhouse developments so individual dwellings could be sold and conveyed through a subdivision process rather than a condominium process. The MBA members described several problems associated with financing homes created through the condominium . process. Problems include lower property valuations for resale of condos by homeowners, difficulty for homeowners to refinance,higher homeowner association fees,more costly mortgage insurance, and greater. • difficulty for homebuyers to qualify for financing. The Planning Commission agreed to initiate consideration of a code amendment process,and held several workshops and a public hearing on the proposed changes to the City's land use regulation. The proposed amendment adds a chapter to the Zoning Code for"Unit Lot Subdivisions." Related amendments are also required to the City's Land Division Ordinance(Title 18)and Procedures Ordinance (Title 15), each in a separate ordinance. Members of the MBA worked closely with City staff and provided substantial testimony to the Planning Commission regarding the proposed code amendments. Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting discussions are provided separately to City Council. RECOMMENDATION (Exact action requested of Council): Adopt Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 1671-89 (EMC Title 19), as amended, with the Addition of a Section Entitled"Unit Lot Subdivisions" and Amending Other Related Sections the Zoning Code. 3