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Comment#013 <br /> MAPD <br /> 1. Incremental Housing Supply <br /> The Comprehensive Plan should place greater emphasis on incremental housing supply <br /> strategies. Recent state legislation requires jurisdictions planning under the Growth <br /> Management Act to allow two accessory dwelling units per lot in single-family zones by the <br /> next periodic update (RCW 36.70A.681).The County should clearly state its intent to <br /> implement these reforms and support municipalities in doing the same. <br /> However,ADU policy alone may have limited impact if those units cannot be financed as <br /> rents in many Kittitas communities are marginally lower than construction costs. However, <br /> sales in the county,even for small homes, remain strong.As such,the Comprehensive Plan <br /> could also encourage the adoption of unit lot subdivision frameworks under RCW <br /> 58.17.060(3). <br /> Unit lot subdivision allows small ownership lots to be created within a parent parcel without <br /> the complexity of condominiumization. In practice,this can make it possible for ADUs, <br /> cottages, and similar housing types to be sold separately from the primary residence,opening <br /> up ownership pathways that are otherwise difficult to finance. <br /> 2. Rural Communities and LAMIRDs <br /> Another potential source of incremental housing supply can be found in Limited Areas of More <br /> Intensive Rural Development(LAMIRDs). Discussed in the Rural and Resource Lands <br /> Element,the Comprehensive Plan places strong emphasis on preserving their rural character, <br /> which is appropriate under the Growth Management Act.At the same time,the plan should <br /> recognize that these existing rural communities may represent appropriate locations for <br /> modest infill housing. <br /> LAMIRDs already function as historic rural community centers and often contain infrastructure <br /> that surrounding rural lands do not. Where sewer systems or community water systems exist, <br /> modest increases in residential density may be compatible with both Growth Management <br /> Act requirements and the continued viability of those communities. <br /> Recent legislation such as SB 5471 authorizes counties to permit certain middle housing <br /> types up to four units per lot in unincorporated urban growth areas, and LAMIRDs.The <br /> Comprehensive Plan could direct staff to evaluate whether this authority could be used <br /> strategically in areas where infrastructure capacity already exists. <br /> While the GMA precludes the creation of new water and sewer utilities outside of UGAs for <br /> the purpose of encouraging development,there is more flexibility for modernizing existing <br /> ones.The County may wish to pursue state and federal infrastructure grants to strengthen <br /> water or wastewater systems in existing rural communities.Targeted infrastructure <br /> investments could support housing in locations where communities already exist, rather than <br /> encouraging development pressure in previously undeveloped rural areas. <br /> 509-968-5201 www.mapd.co 421 N Pearl St,Ste 100,Ellensburg,WA 98926 2 <br />