Commission hears how new zones, ADU standards and cottage housing could add capacity

Lisa explained how the zoning changes and related regulations are intended to increase capacity and housing type diversity. She said the new low-density zone allows cottage housing and updated accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) standards to make adding more units feasible while aiming to protect critical areas.

"Any property in the low density zone will be actually allowed to have three units because you have your primary plus two accessory units," Lisa said, describing how ADU allowances work in the proposed code. She added that medium-density zones permit a broader range of housing types (rowhouses, plexes) and that converting some industrial land to residential further increases capacity.

Commissioners discussed nonconforming-use protections; Lisa noted the municipal code allows replacement and rebuilding in many nonconforming situations and that staff tried to avoid mapping choices that would create unnecessary hardship for owners.

The commission recommended the map and associated code changes to council; specific implementation details and any application-level adjustments will be handled during project review and permit processing.