Olympia's planning commission OKs 'missing middle' housing changes

After months of deliberations, the Olympia Planning Commission has recommended a series of zoning-related changes that would allow more multifamily housing in low-density residential neighborhoods.

The changes — called “missing middle,” referring to housing types that fall between single-family homes and large apartment buildings — were proposed by city staff. The planning commission has been deliberating the more than 40 changes since April.

At its meeting Monday, it signed off on the changes but with a few tweaks:

• Triplexes, fourplexes and courtyard apartments would be allowed in R4-8 residential zoning districts within 300 feet of a transit route or commercial district, instead of within 600 feet.
  
  
• Single-room occupancy buildings would be required to have one off-street parking space for every four rooms, instead of one space for every room.
  
  
• Duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, courtyard apartments and townhomes would be required to provide one off-street parking space for each unit and one and a half spaces if there is no on-street parking in the area.
  
  

Next the changes will go to the Olympia City Council, which will have the final say.

The planning commission plans to send a letter to the City Council explaining its decision and highlighting areas where members disagreed. Those include allowing new duplexes in R4-8 districts, removing off-street parking requirements for accessory dwelling units, and no longer requiring property owners with accessory dwelling units to live on site.

This story was originally published July 10, 2018 at 12:41 PM.