Olympia Planning Commission

Although I set out the goal to write a blog entry each week, I have now come to the consensus that I will write as often as I see fit. (3 weeks later...) I have a meeting with the Olympia Planning Commission, tomorrow: Monday January 24th!! Click here for the agenda.


The meeting will be held @ CITY HALL 900 Plum St SE. I am scheduled to give a 5 minute presentation @ 6:50 PM to the Olympia Planning Commission about my research on Accessory Dwelling Units and why it may be of interest to the planning commission. I've been compiling a reading list and document for the Commissioners as well as structuring my 5 minutes as ninja like as possible. What do I want to say you may ask??

Well folks the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) was adopted by the state legislature in 1990. It requires that local and state government take action and prepare for prospected growth. According to this state document, the GMA is supposed to:

• Focus urban growth in urban areas.

• Reduce sprawl.

• Provide efficient transportation.

• Encourage affordable housing.

• Encourage sustainable economic development.

The City of Olympia adopted the present comprehensive plan in 1994 as part of the GMA requirements for cities with over 20,000 residents. This comprehensive plan directly addresses ADUs in the first (Land Use and Urban Design) chapter. In Goal LU8 and Goal LU4 ADUs are discussed in terms of design standards and as an affordable housing option.

Side Note: The comprehensive planning process is always going on and feel free to drop by Wednesday @ 6:30 at the Urban Onion Ballroom to continue conversations about the future of Olympia in the Imagine Olympia Process.



The meat of the issue: Olympia has a great ADU code, and they worked hard to establish this code. I put in a Public Records request to gain access to all permitted detached and attached ADUs since 1995, the year the ADU ordinance was passed. You can view the document here. There have been 25 permitted Detached ADUs and 30 permitted Attached ADUs since 1995. I am curious what the ratio of permitted to non permitted ADUs is and I believe that we can better balance this ratio with a streamlined ADU incentives program!

What kind of ADU Program? Basically we would like to use Santa Cruz's ADU program as a model.

1. First of all we need a Technical Assistance Program (PROMOTION AND AWARENESS) with a very clear and well developed method for achieving a permit, this includes:
   -ADU guidebook for homeowners to visualize what it takes to rent out un-used space and create outside income flow.
   -Pre-approved design book to reduce engineering and architectural fees, but still achieve the desired design standards that are required by the city.
   
2. Creating an ADU incentives program:
   -Alternative financing mechanisms (low interest loans)
   -Waiving permit fees for low income rentals
   -Temporary Moratorium on Permitting Fees
   -Providing time with a non-profit architecture firm
   
3. Pro-rating sewer connection fees based on based on number of people
4. Creating a classification in the Accessory Structure Zoning Code that allows for detached bedrooms: Portland Example (Detached Accessory Structure, DAS).
   -According to Portland, Oregon's zoning regulations for Accessory Structures, Accessory Structures may be permitted as a dwelling. The clarification between the DAS and the ADU is that an ADU is a completely isolated and operating dwelling. It has it's own entrance, bathroom, kitchen and means to sustain oneself apart from the main unit. A DAS is different because it has no kitchen and it separate from the main dwelling or common area, but not isolated. It is my hypothesis that the majority of illegal units fit more under this zoning classification and if the city were interested in increasing the rates of permitted structures this would help to connect the law with what exists and is happening.
   

Why should the Olympia Planning Commission care??

1. Revenue for the city from permitting and increased property taxes.
   
2. Addressing growth management projections and changing American demographics.
   -The Single Family Unit is no longer the icon of the American ideal. Now more single parent families, young people who are single, and retirees make up the majority of our country. "When the average household size size falls and household composition becomes more diverse, the effort to maintain the historic standards forces many households to be underutilized" according to Nathaniel Taylor Hickey in his 2010 Thesis on ADUs in Seattle from the University of Washington School of Regional and Urban Planning. We need diverse housing options for efficiency and practicality.
   
3. ADUs stimulate Washington jobs in:
   -Construction
   -Real Estate
   -Pre-fabricated housing factories
   -Etc...
   
4. ADUs create revenue streams for young homeowners who are struggling to afford their mortgage payments.
5. Retiring baby boomers are seeking to downsize because they no longer have a large family and they do not need the extra work maintaining a single family house. They seek access to transit and walkable communities.
   
6. ADUs create alternatives so families can enjoy inter-generational housing and avoid continued care facilities.