Affordable Housing Capacity Information Session
City of Bellevue, Virtual
You are invited to learn more about Phase 2 of the city’s initiative to increase affordable housing capacity on faith-owned properties. Action C-1 of the city’s Affordable Housing Strategy calls for increasing development potential for affordable housing on suitable land owned by public agencies, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations. During the first phase of implementing Action C-1 in 2021, the city adopted a density bonus for affordable housing on properties owned by religious organizations, nonprofit organizations, and certain public entities. This action allowed affordable housing developers to build more of the same type of housing already permitted in a site’s land use district. However, it could not enable development of multifamily housing in single-family land use districts.
Phase 2 will begin by developing a proposed amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan to allow certain faith-owned properties in single-family districts to rezone to multifamily use provided the housing they develop is permanently affordable to households earning up to 80% of area median income. The proposed amendment would allow faith-owned properties located near high frequency transit, multifamily or commercial districts, and along arterials to rezone. Twenty-five sites have been identified that meet these location and ownership criteria. Currently, single-family land use districts comprise just over 75% of the city’s land area. Allowing for rezones to multifamily on faith-owned properties providing affordable housing will enable development of a greater number and variety of affordable housing choices across the city.
At the direction of the City Council, city staff are conducting public outreach. Your participation is encouraged; here are two ways to get involved:
- Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 22 (Agenda): Introduction of the initiative during the commission’s regular meeting. Register between 5:30 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. on June 22, to provide oral comments, or email written comments to planningcommission@bellevuewa.gov.
- Virtual information session on June 29: The Community Development Department will host a virtual information session at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 29. Register to attend and you will receive a reminder email with a Zoom webinar link.
- Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, July 27.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Action C-1 Phase 2 Comprehensive Plan amendment this fall. Adoption of the Comprehensive Plan amendment by the City Council is anticipated in December of 2022. Review of a subsequent Land Use Code Amendment and rezone of qualifying properties would begin following adoption of the CPA.
More information is available on the project’s webpage.