Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager

Joan Davenport, Community Development Director

The City of Yakima was asked to submit a letter of support for a proposed Washington State  Draft Bill (HB 2570). City staff has reviewed the draft legislation and offers a recommendation to the City Manager and to City Council:

1. The City of Yakima has taken recent actions to encourage development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) to help ease the demand for additional housing. However, we do not recommend support of this bill as it is currently submitted.
2. The issues related to Affordable Housing resulted in two important  amendments to Washington State Law in 2019 in which the City of Yakima participated: HB 1604 and SHB 1923.
3. As a result of these two programs, the City of Yakima made significant regulatory modifications and updated the zoning code related to  Accessory Dwelling Units;
4. Several of the  proposed requirements in HB 2570 were discussed and rejected in the final draft adopted by the City of Yakima including the proposal to NOT allow a parking requirement for ADU's; the restriction prohibiting most new or separate utility connection to an ADU; prohibition on connection charges to utilities; and specifications related to the maximum gross floor area, maximum height and other design issues.