HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 10 03 AIS CCI ADU Revised CIPAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 10/3/2017
Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Staff Contact/Dept.:
Sandy Belson/DPW
Staff Phone No: 541-736-7135 Estimated Time: 30 Minutes
COMMITTEE FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT (CCI) Council Goal: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel while Focusing on Livability
and Environmental Quality
ITEM TITLE: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PROGRAM
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Review the attached Revised Draft Citizen Involvement Plan (CIP) for amendments to
the requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the Springfield Development Code and either: 1) Approve revisions as submitted; 2) Approve as may be revised further by the CCI; 3) Do not approve.
ISSUE STATEMENT: The City Council’s affordable housing strategy seeks to increase housing supply by allowing a greater variety of housing types as permitted uses; this includes making it
easier to build accessory dwelling units through amendment of the Development Code.
The CCI recently endorsed a CIP that provided citizens with several options to participate in this process. When the CCI discussed the Plan’s implementation they
suggested some new opportunities to improve this product. Adding these opportunities to the CIP requires CCI approval.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Revised Draft CIP showing revisions and comments.
2. Revised Draft CIP in a version ready to be approved by the CCI
DISCUSSION: At its meeting on June 20, the CCI reviewed a Draft CIP and suggested some additional
opportunities to engage the public in the process to develop and adopt amendments to the development code. The main suggestion was to hold an Open House so that people could come in and see examples and better understand accessory dwelling units and the
proposed code amendments.
In addition, the Planning Commission recommended allowing ADUs in the Washburne Historic District. Thus the Revised Draft CIP includes a meeting with the Historic
Commission.
Instead of generic outreach to interest groups, staff has focused on targeted outreach
and invited interested parties and community groups to the Open House. They have also been included in the Interested Parties Mailing List. The Mailing List will be used
for regular communications throughout the project.
Staff has incorporated the CCI suggestions into a Revised Draft Citizen Involvement Plan that creates opportunity for citizens to be involved in all phases of the land use
planning process that will amend the accessory dwelling unit regulations within the
Springfield Development Code.
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 5
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 5
Attachment 1, Page 3 of 5
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Attachment 1, Page 5 of 5
Revised Draft Citizen Involvement Plan for ADU Code Amendments Page 1
REVISED DRAFT CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT PLAN (CIP)
for Accessory Dwelling Unit Code Amendments
Project Background
In October 2016 the Springfield City Council began its analysis of housing affordability
in Springfield and started developing options to increase affordable housing within the
City. According to the data analysis presented to Council on October 10, 2016, the City
of Springfield is currently experiencing a housing shortage. The housing supply is
limited at all levels and rental vacancy rates are very low, less than 1%, with the lowest
vacancy rates for small rental units. (Generally, a 5% vacancy rate is thought to be
healthy.) Housing costs in Springfield are increasing faster than household incomes.
The City Council has been developing a strategy in response to this problem. Among
the options presented to Council at work sessions on November 28, 2016, February 13,
2017, April 10, 2017, and May 1, 2017, a program to encourage infill development and
bolster Springfield’s housing stock through accessory dwelling units (ADUs) was one of
the most immediately actionable steps that could be taken.
ADUs can increase housing density within areas zoned Low Density Residential. This
increased density will increase the housing available to Springfield residents without
expanding the Springfield Urban Growth Boundary or up-zoning or drastically altering
the character in LDR zoned neighborhoods. This infill development via ADUs will help
to answer the demand for market-rate rental housing in Springfield while preserving the
character of Springfield’s existing neighborhoods.
Council finds that accessory dwelling units provide a number of public policy benefits,
including:
A. Increasing the number and type of affordable housing units without consuming
land in the city’s limited inventory of undeveloped land; in particular, accessory
dwelling units increase the supply of small rental units for which the vacancy rate
is lowest;
B. Increasing the density in existing neighborhoods and taking advantage of the
existing infrastructure;
C. Creating opportunities for intergenerational living and on-site
caretakers/assistants;
D. Diversifying the demographics of an existing neighborhood;
Attachment 2, Page 1 of 4
Revised Draft Citizen Involvement Plan for ADU Code Amendments Page 2
E. Providing financial benefit to property owners; and
F. Triggering economic development at a local scale by providing work to local
builders and contractors;
The Springfield ADU Program seeks to increase the presence of ADUs within the City of
Springfield through waiver of SDCs1, increased public awareness of the possibilities for
ADUs, and the reduction in regulatory hurdles in the Springfield Development Code.
Council has identified areas where the code could be amended to reduce regulatory
barriers and expand the opportunities for ADUs. This Citizen Involvement Plan (CIP)
explains how the City will garner public input regarding proposed Development Code
Changes.
Goal of Citizen Involvement Plan
To provide citizens the opportunity to participate in the preparation and adoption of
amendments to the Springfield Development Code.
Input Desired
Springfield Development Code section 5.4-100 addresses what constitutes an
accessory dwelling unit, its purpose, the zones in which it can be constructed, and
applicable design parameters. The amendments to the development code will require
consideration of how to achieve the following two objectives:
REDUCING REGULATORY CHALLENGES TO NEW ADU CONSTRUCTION
The core aim of amending the Springfield Development Code is to encourage
development of ADUs within the City by reducing regulatory hurdles to new
development. As such, developers, home builders and home owners should advise on
how to reduce regulation to spur development.
MAINTAINING NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
The Springfield Development Code, in part, is intended to protect the character of existing neighborhoods within the City. Given that, it is important to retain these
protections while reducing regulations on ADU construction. Those interested in the
topic can provide insight into how home owners and renters view changes to ADU
regulation in their neighborhoods.
1 On June 5, 2017, the City Council temporarily waived the city’s Systems Development
Charges (SDC) for new ADU construction. The SDCs assessed by the Willamalane Park and
Recreation District and Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission are still in effect.
Attachment 2, Page 2 of 4
Revised Draft Citizen Involvement Plan for ADU Code Amendments Page 3
Citizen Involvement Strategies
GENERAL PUBLIC OUTREACH
General public outreach will utilize the media and the internet to reach a broad
population.
Media coverage – The city will prepare periodic press releases.
City website – A page on the City’s website will provide information about the
proposed code amendments, specific information about how to provide input on
the code amendments, and contact information for the project manager.
City’s Facebook page and Twitter – Posts will alert viewers about the code
amendment process.
Springfield Connection - The City’s email newsletter will contain articles about the
code amendment process.
Interested Parties Mailing List – As people express interest, the City will develop
an interested parties list in order to maintain contact with those who want to
follow the land use process. This list will include people from the developer
interest groups, the community interest groups, and the general public.
Open House – The City will host an Open House to explain and gather input on
the proposed development code changes. People will also be able to learn more
about the temporary system development charge waiver and talk with staff about
how to build an ADU on their property. The Open House will be advertised at
one of the sites on the BRING Home and Garden Tour, in various community
calendars, as well as through all the outreach efforts listed above.
COMMUNITY GROUPS OUTREACH
Staff will send notice of the Open House and public hearings to the following
organizations: Home Builders Association of Lane County, Springfield Board of
Realtors, Renter Owners Association, affordable housing providers, the Washburne
Neighborhood Association, Chamber of Commerce, City Club, and the League of
Women Voters.
COMMITTEE FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
The CCI reviewed the Draft Citizen Involvement Plan on June 20, 2017 and will review it
again on October 3, 2017. These reviews are conducted in public meetings. The
agenda packets for these meetings are posted on the city’s website and emailed to the
Planning Commission mailing list, including the local media.
Attachment 2, Page 3 of 4
Revised Draft Citizen Involvement Plan for ADU Code Amendments Page 4
PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSIONS
The Planning Commission will hold at least two work sessions to consider Council’s
direction for potential code amendments and to review and incorporate staff and public
input. All work session agenda packets are posted on the city’s website and emailed to
the Planning Commission mailing list, including the local media.
HISTORIC COMMISSION MEETING
The Planning Commission requested that the Historic Commission provide a
recommendation on whether or not to allow ADUs within the Washburne Historic
District. As such, the Historic Commission will meet to discuss this matter in a regular
meeting that is advertised through the city’s website and the Historic Commission email
list, including the local media.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Pursuant to Springfield Development Code 5.1-140(B), notice of all public hearings
pertaining to amending the Springfield Development Code will be published in the
Register-Guard newspaper. Notices will also be sent to the list of interested parties and
the agenda packets sent to the Planning Commission and City Council’s respective
mailing lists. Both the Planning Commission and the City Council will hold public
hearings on the proposed legislative code amendments.
NOTICE TO DEPARTMENT OF LAND CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The State of Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) will
be notified of development code amendments prior to the Springfield Planning
Commission public hearing on proposed changes. DLCD will be notified after these
amendments have been adopted by the Springfield City Council.
Attachment 2, Page 4 of 4