Mattawa council approves housing action plan

MATTAWA — After about five months of discussion, the Mattawa City Council approved a housing action plan at its regular meeting Thursday. City officials are working to apply for funding to upgrade and expand the city’s water and sewer systems, and updating development regulations, including an action plan, is part of that.

“The plan has also been reviewed by the (Washington Department of) Commerce and it is sufficient,” said Rachelle Bradley of SCJ Alliance, the city’s planners.

Council members passed it on a unanimous vote with no discussion.

Bradley said at a community meeting in March that passing the plan is the first phase of a two-phase process. Implementation is the second phase, which will require updates to the city’s building regulations.

Bradley said during a May 18 public hearing that the draft plan was revised to reflect comments from city residents. One of the changes was the addition of a code enforcement officer.

Both residents and city officials had expressed concerns about enforcing housing regulations. A draft report cited concerns about people living in buildings not intended as residences, as well as properties that are not adequately maintained. During a March meeting council member Sun Hwang said the city has trouble enforcing existing regulations, citing unpermitted construction on existing lots.

The plan recommends updates to Mattawa’s zoning and building codes to allow different types of housing. The proposals include allowing accessory dwelling units, known as in-law apartments, townhouses and developments with homes of 1,200 square feet or smaller, known as cottage housing. Council members talked at multiple meetings about finding ways to limit the potential for abuse of any regulations the city establishes.

Bradley emphasized at the public hearing that the strategies and actions recommended in the plan are suggestions, and council members can accept or reject them.

Simplifying off-street parking regulations also is recommended, along with updating the city’s zoning map. Establishing a housing action committee also is recommended.

The plan also addresses increasing opportunities for home ownership, such as reviewing rules for lot size minimums and housing density in residential zones, looking at the regulations for conditional use permits and encouraging rent-to-own programs.

Council members also unanimously passed an ordinance approving the annexation of 40 acres into the city, the proposed site of a new housing development. Council member Tony Acosta wondered why the subject was back before the council.

“Haven’t we already done all this?” Acosta asked.

Bradley said council members approved a resolution accepting the annexation but needed an ordinance to go along with it. The ordinance fixed the earlier error, she said.

“Has there been any delay in the process because we didn’t have this?” Acosta asked.

“No, we just got their subdivision application last week,” Bradley said. “If we get this passed, there won’t be any issues with their application or moving it forward.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.