HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-09-21 Public Comment - M. Egge - Multi-Family DevelopmentFrom:Mark Egge
To:Agenda
Subject:loss of housing units
Date:Wednesday, June 9, 2021 9:57:07 AM
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City Commission—
Commissioner Madgis has talked some of creating disincentives forconverting existing multifamily housing into single-family housing, citing
an ongoing loss of units (especially in our urban core).
I share Commissioner Madgic's concern about the loss of housing unitsthrough the conversion of existing multifamily units into high-end single-
family homes. My suggestion is to level the playing field (or perhaps tip
the scales in favor of) multi-family development.
At present, from a code standpoint, it's much easier to scrape an existing
(typically nonconforming) duplex/triplex and replace it with an SFR than to
replace it with another multifamily unit. Due to lot size minimums, off-
street parking requirements and other discriminatory housing policiies it iseasy to go from a non-conforming triplex to a conforming SFR but
frequently impossible to go the other direction.
I just wanted to suggest that, instead of making it more difficult to buildsingle-family homes, we should instead consider strategies that make it
easier to build duplexes, triplexes, etc.
For example, in addition to eliminating lot size minimums, we could tierthe "floor area ratio" maximums and lot coverage maximums with the
number of units, so that someone would be allowed to build a larger
structure and use more of their lot for a duplex or triplex than a single-
family residence.
For example, Seattle considered similar legislation a year or two ago
aimed to reduce tear-downs and incentivizing multi-family
units: https://www.sightline.org/2019/06/18/can-seattle-curtail-teardowns-and-provide-more-affordable-homes/
Thank you for your consideration,
Mark Egge
542 N Black Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715