Expanding Opportunities for Affordable Housing Package B proposes more properties for development

News Article
City Council to consider proposals, hear public testimony at March 3 virtual public hearing; testimony can also be submitted online via the Map App.
Published

The Expanding Opportunities for Affordable Housing (EOAH) project adopted by City Council in June 2020 included amendments to the Zoning Code, Zoning Map, and Comprehensive Plan Map. These changes will help pave the way for development of affordable housing on land owned by faith- and community-based organizations. City Council also directed the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to prepare a follow-up recommendation on five more sites, which were identified during testimony, for potential map changes to facilitate development.

EOAHB is launched

A follow-on project ensued to study and make a recommendation for those additional sites, which included:

  • St Phillip the Deacon: 120 & 130 NE Knott Street
  • Mississippi Site: 4505 & 4515 N Mississippi Avenue
  • Legacy Site: 2800 N Vancouver Avenue
  • Cedar Sinai Park: Property east of 6140 SW Boundary Street
  • Tabor Heights United Methodist: 6161 SE Stark Street

During the fall of 2020, BPS staff conducted targeted outreach, working with property owners, neighbors, partner bureaus, and other stakeholders, to evaluate each site to determine the appropriateness and ripeness of the proposed rezoning. Staff then convened meetings with interested parties and neighbors to discuss the proposals and hear their feedback.

Proposals now ready for public review and comment

Based on these community conversations and consultation with the City’s infrastructure bureaus, staff determined that zone changes for two of the five sites are appropriate at this time. For the remaining three sites, a combination of neighborhood and property owner concerns resulted in recommendations to table the proposal or pursue it through another process.

Staff subsequently drafted recommendations for Council consideration. The Expanding Opportunities for Affordable Housing – Package B (EOAHB) Staff Report includes recommendations to rezone two of the five sites to allow more affordable housing. View the report:

Staff will present the proposal to City Council at a hearing on March 3 at 2 p.m. Community members are invited to comment on the proposal electronically via the Map App through March 3. Oral testimony will also be taken at the hearing on March 3. City Council will hold a vote on the matter in Spring 2021.

Contact

JP McNeil

City Planner II, Planning and Sustainability