RE: SMC 17C.300: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS – REVIEW AND SUGGESTED UPDATES
April 21, 2022
RE: SMC 17C.300: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
– REVIEW AND SUGGESTED UPDATES
Dear Spokane Planning, Ms. Murphy, Plan Commission, and Councilmembers:
Thank you
for your work in implementing the city’s Housing Action Plan, and for moving
the needle forward on greater housing supply.
As you’re
well aware, there is a critical need to increase housing supply in Spokane. We
are simply failing at producing the needed numbers that will result in 6,791
new units by 2037 (or 400+ units per year) per the City’s 2020 Housing Needs
Assessment. Unless bold changes are made, then we will continue to push
would-be home-owners and renters, and community members to the margins.
Please
consider moving quickly in adopting and codifying relaxed and flexible
standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a preliminary, ‘low-hanging
fruit’, opportunity. I would encourage the Plan Commission and City Council to
ratify polices suggested by in RCW 36.70A.600(1)(n),(o),(p),(q),and (x)
regarding additional flexibility, and lessening restrictions, for accessory
dwelling units.
The draft changes to “17C.300 SMC Accessory Dwelling Units” attempt to ratify some of
these policies.
Please
consider the following suggestions / modifications to the proposed draft ADU
updates:
· 17C.300.100 (B)(2) – Multiple ADUs in
all Residential Zones may be permitted through a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
· 17C.300.100 (B)(2) – Development
standards of the underlying district may be modified pursuant to the provisions
of this section.
· 17C.300.110 (A)(1) – Reduce minimum
size of principal structure to 500 square feet.
· 17C.300.110 (A)(1)(a) – Floor area of
internal ADU not more than 50% the floor area of the principal structure, or
800 square feet, whichever is greater.
· 17C.300.110 (A)(2) – Per WA House
Bill 1660 - Floor area of detached ADU not more than 850 square feet for
lots less than 4,500 square feet, and 1,350 square feet as the combined floor
area for both attached and detached ADUs on lots greater than 4,500 square
feet.
· 17C.300.110 (B) – Per RCW
36.70A.600(1)(p) - Remove owner-occupancy requirements, i.e. ‘Draft Option
SMC 110.C.1’
· 17C.300.130 (A)(5) - Remove all off-street parking requirement, i.e. 'Draft Option SMC 130.A5.1'
Thank you for your consideration and seeking to address dire need.
With Regards,
GrannyFlatSpokane
ryan@grannyflatspokane.com