Title
ADDRESSING THE COSTS OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY AND INCREASING MULTIFAMILY HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN LONGVIEW
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Preserve and Enhance Neighborhoods, Address Quality of Life Issues, Strengthen Economic Conditions and Create New Opportunities.
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
There is a housing shortage in Longview and surrounding communities. Building new construction and redevelopment can be discouraged by existing, well-meaning but overly-restrictive and unnecessary regulations which increase the cost of construction and make poor use of the available land, with resulting higher rents. Rents have increased at a rapid rate. Vacancies are near historic lows. Increasing supply of affordable housing will affect rents, availability of housing, reduce homelessness and reduce the risk of homelessness. New, modern, and healthy living spaces will increase the quality of life for Longview residents. New construction will foster greater economic growth and vitality, existing neighborhoods will be revitalized and attract additional investment for their enhancement.
The City Council desires to encourage and foster greater multifamily development, redevelopment, and new housing opportunities, for all, in Longview. Council began expressing a desire to make modifications to unnecessarily restrictive measures in 2016, numerous community stakeholders have expressed a desire for council to take proactive action, and recently Council expressed similar interest in 2017 work plan planning work shop meetings.
The City Council desires to reconsider and possibly repeal Chapter 19.20.060 of the Longview Municipal Code, and more. The City Council desires to increase the maximum allowable multifamily density in R-3 and R-4 zones, reconsider restrictive parking space and parking lot requirements, increase the maximum allowable height of multifamily ...
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