Sequim staff say city can absorb 27 emergency housing beds; council to consider concurrence with Clallam County

Sequim planning staff told commissioners on Nov. 18 that Clallam County may need to reallocate 27 emergency housing beds assigned to the county's urban growth area (UGA) because county zoning presently lacks nonresidential zones that the State equates with hotels or similar emergency housing uses.

A commissioner asked whether the county could meet its allocation; staff replied that the city and county have coordinated since July and that the county would need to upzone several parcels in the UGA to meet income-band targets. "We do have capacity for that 27 beds," staff said, explaining that Sequim's commercial zoning districts show excess capacity under the Department of Commerce methodology.

Next steps: Staff said they will brief City Council on Monday about Clallam County DCD's request for reallocation, and, if council authorizes, staff will write a letter of concurrence that would move the 27 emergency housing beds from the UGA into Sequim city limits and update the table in the next iteration of the comprehensive plan.

Context: The reallocation is framed as administrative coordination between jurisdictions to meet state-required allocation by income band; the change requires City Council action and will be reflected in the next plan iteration, not a final adoption tonight.