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<br /> <br />Page 5 of 8 <br />Planning Commission Recommendation <br />At the March 13, 2024, meeting, the Planning Commission voted 4-1 to approve both <br />Alternative 1, the 57-unit project proposal, as well as to approve Alternative 2, the 55 unit <br />project, both subject to approval of an Affordable Housing Agreement in conformance with <br />the IZO. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission further recommended that for Alternative 2, the City Council <br />consider using Lower Income Housing Funds (LIHF) to support improving the affordability <br />of the proposed for-sale units to be affordable to lower-income, rather than to moderate- <br />income households. <br /> <br />Since approval of the related AHAs was not in the purview of the Planning Commission, the <br />dual recommendation would allow for either project alternative to proceed, contingent upon <br />the City Council’s ultimate approval of the AHA that may reflect either of the alternatives (or <br />a modification thereof). <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br />Affordable Housing Requirements <br />Alternative 1 includes 57 condominium units, which are considered a “multi-family <br />development” pursuant to the definitions included in the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance <br />(IZO).1 PMC Section 17.44.040(A) provides that for all new multiple-family residential <br />projects of 15 units or more, at least 15 percent of the project’s dwelling units shall be <br />affordable to very low, and/or low-income households with such units provided on-site. To <br />meet the requirements of the 57-unit project, the developer is proposing to provide nine (9) <br />one-bedroom units on-site as “rental affordable units” to conform to the IZO. The units would <br />be required to be rented to income-eligible lower-income households. <br /> <br />Similar to other multi-family developments, Alternative 1 will enter into an Affordable <br />Housing Agreement memorializing basic affordability elements including the levels of <br />affordability and unit counts for the rental affordable units, which is recommended to be as <br />follows: <br /> <br />Unit Type Low Income <br />(60 to 80% of AMI) <br />1 Bedroom 9 <br />Total: 9 <br /> <br />The rent charged for the rental affordable units shall not exceed one-twelfth of 60% of the <br />Area Median Income (AMI) multiplied by 30%; however, actual household income can be <br />between 60% and 80% AMI, adjusted for household size. <br /> <br />“For-Sale” Compliance Options <br />The City has held discussions with the applicant about options that would allow some of the <br />rental units to be separately conveyed or sold, also to eligible low-income households at <br />60% to 80% AMI. This flexibility would permit the units to be purchased either by a qualified <br /> <br />1 See Municipal Code §17.44.030.