2020/10/14 Council Agenda Packet

Agenda Subject: Housing Hope Plan and Zoning Amendment Staff Report to Planning Commission Date: 9/3/2020 Policy 8.2.4 Establish and/or expand Historic Overlay Districts and design guidelines to preserve distinct neighborhoods and districts. Goal 8.5 Produce greater compatibility between different land uses and between new and existing development using landscaping or other appropriate design measures. Policy 8 5.2 Incorporate special guidelines in the city's Land Use Code to ensure a compatible relationship between designated historic structures and adjacent new development or renovation. DISCUSSION CONSISTENCY WITH PLANS: IMPACTS AND CONSIDERATIONS OF PROJECT: The Comprehensive Plan includes goals, objectives and policies that indicate that the proposal may be either consistent or inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Consistent: • Encourage the availability of affordable housing • Promote increased densities and infill housing types • Consider affordable housing projects in which development standards may be negotiated (e.g. development agreement) • Support efforts to prevent homelessness • Provide opportunities for supportive housing Inconsistent • Multifamily is applied along transit corridors and mixed -use arterial corridors (Rucker) • Protect existing single family neighborhoods from substantial changes such as rezoning to multiple family zones • Develop strategies to disperse subsidized rental housing While the project site is within normal walking distance of frequent transit, the grade and sidewalk network is not built to standards that would be expected for multifamily development, including supportive housing. This property is not included in any historic resource survey. On the face of it, it does not meet the requirements for being an historic overlay except Policy 8.5.2 addresses the "compatible relationship between designated historic structures and adjacent new development .." As discussed at the Historic Commission meeting, the reason for including this property within the Historic Overlay is to provide for that transition to ensure compatibility with the historic neighborhood. There is a need for additional affordable housing within the city, and especially supportive housing as this project is envisioned. The state provided additional opportunities to make projects viable by allowing the transfer of public properties, such as the school district, to entities providing affordable housing for low-income persons, particularly the homeless. This project can help fulfill this goal. Page 7 of 10