HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-11-21 Public Comment - M. Wictor - Affordable Housing Duplexes and ADUsFrom:Mary Wictor
To:Agenda
Subject:PDF ~ Require DUPLEXes (and ADUs) be allowed re: Affordable Housing & Homelessness, plus Housing
Affordability
Date:Thursday, November 11, 2021 2:41:31 PM
Attachments:RESEARCH ~ Require DUPLEXes (and ADUs) be allowed--Affordability & Housing (9pgs).pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
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Agenda@Bozeman.com, before 3:00pm THU 11/11/2021
I wanted to ensure you have an a single-pdf format to use INSTEAD if you prefer (it's the SAME info as
what I emailed just before this.)
Sincerely, Mary Wictor 425-283-7253 mobile
From:Mary Wictor
To:Agenda
Subject:Require DUPLEXes (and ADUs) be allowed re: Affordable Housing & Homelessness, plus Housing Affordability
Date:Thursday, November 11, 2021 1:50:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City of Bozeman, PUBLIC COMMENT ~ sent on November 11, 2021 before 3pm... please include inupcoming packet 11/16/2021+
Re: Require DUPLEX housing units be allowed for most any residentially-zoned land
Please accept this written input/research and distribute widely, but at least to the BOZEMAN CityCommission, Zoning Commission, City Planning Board, Parking Commission, Design Review Board,
Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board, City Manager, Planning Department, and to any
other individuals or groups as applicable, that may presently exist and/or are planned to be merged/created
(e.g., Development Review Committee?) regarding Land Use / Permitted Uses and growth or housing
topics.
Note: Also, TUE 11/16/2021 City Commission meeting is directly related to input below since ADUs are
on the agenda as Item I.1.]
I have watched and listened to two (2) recent City of Bozeman Planning Commission meetings (27Sep2021
JT w/ Zoning & 18Oct2021) regarding/discussions of the City-consultant Clarion's report on Affordable
Housing. I also participated in the City of Bozeman's 3-hour Community Roundtable on Equity & Inclusion
[25Oct2021 3-6pm] and many needs to secure or rent Affordable Housing were paramount. Additionally, per
the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (BDC Oct. 26, 2021), I saw the article, "Bozeman considering relaxations to
ADU rules."
First, I commend Bozeman's interest & actions to widely allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), anddetached ADUs (aka DADUs).
[I do hope Bozeman will look at/review parking enforcement regulations too, since development is
always to consider and promote public health, general welfare, and safety--without adverse impacts or
unintended consequences--even if adding ADUs occurs gradually.
I do understand why parking requirements are to be reduced (but even the BDC 10/26/2021 article & quotes
allude to parking issues). Important to ensure not too many cars or bigger vehicles, or trucks/trailers etc.
can cause access concerns and/or block safe access for fire or snowplowing, etc. SAFETY first, and pleasedo NOT ignore annoyances and/or create problems for adjacent/area neighbors.
One more idea: maybe if an ADU does not have parking, or if adequate parking is not available, then rental
or occupancy of unit(s) might be restricted to residents without a vehicle? Plus, maybe by the time ofoccupancy, there would need to be nearby transit options/services available for that area.]
Second, in two City Planning Board meetings, valid statements and strong arguments were made regarding
use of duplexes to help Affordable Housing (and Housing Affordability) Thus, I decided to look into thismore, and do some research online for DUPLEXes.
I hope you will take time to read, and click some of the direct links [I have provided herein near the bottom
of this email.]
RECENT RESEARCH
The States of OREGON and CALIFORNIA have already made and adopted regulations to ALLOW
DUPLEXes on any parcel or Lot zoned for residential uses. Also, veteran lobbyists predict for the State of
WASHINGTON, that the upcoming 60-day ""short session" Legislature starting January 10, 2022, willdiscuss Affordable Housing & Homelessness--especially to include requiring that duplexes be allowed for
existing parcels/lots in practically all residentially zoned areas.
SOME KEY BENEFITS
Here's what I see based on things I have heard from different sources (beyond and along with ADUs) as to
why Duplexes seem to be a foremost and foundational as a most appropriate solution to address key
housing and affordability issues:+ Duplex on existing Lot(s): the land-cost per dwelling will be cut in half, without need for purchase of new
land for a 2nd dwelling
+ Duplex may provide a 2nd or supplemental income to an owner who lives onsite in one of the units, or to
offsite owner(s) renting both+ Duplexes offer residential ownership or longer term leasing options for owners and occupants
+ Unlike (e.g., Airbnb or Vrbo) short-term rentals, Duplexes are not a "job" in order to handle weekly for
cleanings/preparation, and duplexes do NOT add to neighborhood annoyances/nuisances
+ Duplexes are the most compatible with single-family homes and can indeed fit into neighborhoodcharacter and design--often just looking like one small-to-medium-or-large house
+ Duplexes offer additional housing per parcel without requiring that roads be extended, or requiring more
linear feet of sewer/water lines. This reduces the overall costs of roads and services in the City of Bozeman,
and also will provide tremendous maintenance savings!
SUMMARY>> Duplexes reduce sprawl and are useful in in-fill areas, for redevelopment, and/or new
development providing needed suitable and compatible housing, reducing land costs to build, requiring less
infrastructure, with overall reduced costs for the owners/renters, and less service-costs, with lower
maintenance, and more affordable longer-term repair/replacement for the City of Bozeman. Both ADUs and
Duplexes can and will facilitate "gentle density" for housing that is needed without unduly impacting
neighborhoods, character, or highly-rated liveablity.
As a friend of mine likes to say, "It's not about who's right; rather, it is about what's right." Since allowing
Duplexes on any residential lot is now required in Oregon, California, and most likely will be in Washington
state too--it does seem to be a good and right time for the City of Bozeman to truly consider and implement
regulations and code so that, like ADUs, Duplexes will be allowed and encouraged in residential areas.
Sincerely, Mary Wictor 425-283-7253 mobile
Owner: 1504 Boylan Road, Bozeman, MT 59715 and other property in Bozeman & Gallatin County
Attachments from WA State lobbyists & One city's current code (City of Sammamish: permitted
uses/Duplexes & some ADU footnotes.)
Click on direct links provided farther before for research from States of OR & CA
P.S. Finally, an important note on Equity, Inclusivity & Affordability
Duplexes, for more housing choices people can afford, gradual change, equity/inclusion (including forindividuals old & young):
On EQUITY & INCLUSION -- From AARP per their Livable Communities initiative with 450+ communities in
the US. They state, “The common thread among the enrolled communities and states is the belief that the places where we live are more
livable, and better able to support people of all ages, when local leaders commit to improving the quality of life for the
very young, the very old, and everyone in between.
People of all ages benefit from the adoption of policies and programs that make neighborhoods walkable, feature
transportation options, enable access to key services, provide opportunities to participate in community activities, and
support housing that’s affordable and adaptable.
Well-designed, age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents of all
ages.”
OREGON 2019 -- Duplexes
State of Oregon, House Bill 2001 -- signed 2019, implement initially by June 30, 2021 and additional by
June 20, 2022Department of Land Conservation and Development : Housing Choices (House Bill 2001) : Urban Planning :
State of Oregon OR
https://www.oregon.gov/lcd/UP/Pages/Housing-Choices.aspx
Above: full link has headings and paragraph text that is very worthwhile--quite easy to read and absorb.
Below: This one-page "Overview" is extremely good, so no need to summarize it.
2019-10-22_HB2001_Overview_Public (oregon.gov)
House Bill 2001 | City of Bend (bendoregon.gov)Above: One City's approach, Bend, OR... and the text on this webpage tries to answer some questions
people (or you) might have.
CALIFORNIA 2021 -- Duplexes
State of California, Senate Bill 9 -- signed 9/16/2021
The CA Housing Opportunity & More Efficiency [H.O.M.E.] ActSB 9: The California HOME Act | Focus OR
https://focus.senate.ca.gov/sb9
Above: Easy to read bold headings with good paragraph text explanations (homeowners, intergenerational,
not investors, tenants, historic, local, infill, and Myth & Facts. Four (4) nice PHOTO examples appear just
above the SUPPORTERS heading, for CA or MT?!
>>>>Plus, near the bottom of this webpage are PHOTOs to test and see if you can identify single-family or
Duplex?
[No kidding, and no cheating! Do look and think for yourself, then hover over those images for the answer to
type of house/home.]
The Mercury News, September 17 - 20, 2021 ... "Experts say the vast majority of properties and
neighborhoods will not be affected."
www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/17/what-californias-new-sb9-law-means-for-single-family-zoning-in-your-
neighborhood/
OR What California’s new SB9 housing law means for single-family zoning in your neighborhood
WASHINGTON State -- Duplexes
BOZEMAN is the "Most Livable" :)
Attached .jpg files are screen captures from the Washington State, for a "best small city", the City ofSammamish (population ~65,000).
https://patch.com/washington/sammamish/sammamish-named-americas-best-small-city
Attached .jpg screen captures from City of Sammamish online materials include Excerpts from lobbyists'report.
Excerpt: From 10/21/2021 page 247 of 331 full agenda packet. On Affordable Housing & Homelessness as
expected Legislative Topic: By Luke Esser & Nick Federici, Attorney & Govt. Affairs/Relations, veteran lobbyists Olympia, WA as
consultants for City of Sammamish, WA. [The highlighting is mine.] Esser & Federici also noted in their
report the following:
"The upcoming 2022 Legislative Session [an even-numbered year], will be a “short session” that lasts 60
days, beginning on
January 10. During short sessions there is less time for action on bills than during the 105-day “long
sessions” and the budgets adopted are “supplemental budgets” which offer fewer opportunities for newappropriations than the main biennial budgets adopted in the “long
sessions” of odd-numbered years."
However, in WA State, one of the most prominent policy issues affecting cities likely to be addressed in the
2022 Legislative Session includes AFFORDABLE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS and to require duplexesbe allowed in residentially zoned areas/land.
City of Sammamish: existing Municipal Code may or may not be of interest to compare/contrast with
Bozeman Municipal Code.A Permitted Uses Example
https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Sammamish/html/Sammamish21A/Sammamish21A20.html#21A.20.030
For example, The City of Sammamish zoning already allows duplexes in all R zones except R-1. See code
section 21A.20.030 P-Permitted Use with footnotes P16 & 17 relate to Duplexes. Final .jpg is just existingcode notes for ADUs.
Hope you made it this far, and found at least portions of this DUPLEXes research worthwhile, and
applicable for Montana in Bozeman.
Example taken from:
City of Sammamish, WA
Excerpt from
Development Code
Residential Land Uses
Permitted Uses
Table –DUPLEXes
Example from:
Sammamish, WA
Excerpt from
Development Code
Development
Conditions
Accessory Dwelling
Units