A much-debated rule on affordable housing seems likely to pass the Metro Council, after the board voted unanimously Dec. 9 to approve new wording for a proposed change to Title 11.
The changes to Title 11, initially proposed by a subcommittee of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee, require cities to develop realistic plans for affordable housing in potential urban growth boundary expansion areas set aside for residential growth.
The plan says cities should now have strategies "that increase the likelihood that needed housing types – which may include housing options for households with incomes at or below 80, 50 and 30 percent of median family incomes – will be market-feasible or provided by non-market housing developers within the 20-year UGB planning periods."
That was a win for affordable housing advocates, who wanted to see cities and counties specifically address plans to house minimum wage earners.
Local governments, looking for flexibility in the way they plan, got their win in the next paragraph of the proposal:
"This subsection is intended to encourage local governments to consider a range of policies and incentives that could facilitate development of a broader range of housing types and affordability than might otherwise occur. The comprehensive plan may include such provisions and requirements as the city or county deems necessary to ensure the provision of needed housing types and to implement the strategies indentified in the plan."
Councilor Robert Liberty brought the changes forward early in the Dec. 9 meeting. The council voted to accept the amendment later in the meeting, giving councilors some time to review the proposed language.
Councilor Kathryn Harrington had expressed initial concern about passing the proposed amendment that night. But she voted to support the changes after looking over the proposal.
"While some of the regional partners may be uncomfortable with changed wording … they will likely be comfortable and support this language," she said.
Part of the problem was the cancellation of the scheduled Dec. 8 meeting of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee. Some councilors, including Harrington, had wanted feedback from the region's mayors, city councilors and county commissioners before voting on the proposal.
Liberty said he would take the proposed changes to members of the advisory committee's housing subcommittee to make sure they were comfortable with the proposal. The council is scheduled for a final vote on the capacity ordinance, including the proposed affordable housing language, on Dec. 16.