Drafter
Clerk 07/30/2009
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AN ORDINANCE relating to three development projects; adopting provisions for approval of three sustainable communities and housing demonstration projects, in accordance with K.C.C. 21A.55.010; and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 21A.55.
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PREAMBLE:
The availability of affordable housing is a regional vision as expressed in the Growth Management Act, Vision 2040 multicounty planning policies, the King County countywide planning policies and the King County Comprehensive Plan. Ideally, affordable housing would be located in communities that are safe, healthy, accessible to facilities and services and part of diverse communities.
Comprehensive Plan Policy U-108 calls on the county to promote public health by concentrating growth within the Urban Growth Area, allowing mixed-use developments and adding pedestrian linkages. Further, Comprehensive Plan Policy U-132 encourages innovative, quality infill development and redevelopment in existing urban areas. More specifically, this policy directs the county to consider a strategy employing techniques for assembly and resale of sites to providers of affordable housing. With an understanding of the cost of providing parking combined with the decreasing need for parking within urban areas due to increased transit options, Policy U-329 suggests a reduction in parking requirements for affordable housing projects that utilize any of a variety of affordable housing incentive programs, subsidies, tax abatement or credits. Further, in accordance with Policy U-337, King County understands the importance of incorporating the principles of healthy communities and homes, sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation in affordable housing developments.
The King County initiative, HealthScape, reported that people who live in more compact urban communities actually drive, on average, twenty-six percent less than people who live in more-sprawling communities. Furthermore,...

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