Council hears explanation of infill-lot lottery after public concerns over fairness

Council responded to public questions about how developers were selected for the city's infill-lot program. Rebecca Jones of the city's legal department explained that the RFP allowed both individuals and companies to apply, but required applicants to meet experience and qualification standards; when multiple qualified applicants sought the same lot, the city used a randomized lottery system to select a winner. "If you meet the qualifications in the RFP...if there were multiple people that submitted for the lot, they were put into a random, lottery software system," Jones said.

Council noted the program's intention to maximize housing units on small parcels and to prioritize multifamily where feasible; staff said only a few lots remain while some parcels require zoning or infrastructure work. Councilwoman Young moved and the council approved a request for a written report, due August 27, listing which developers were chosen in the lottery and how many lots each received.