31.04.120 Affordable housing – Inventory and analysis.
(1) GMA Goal. Encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of the population of this State, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage preservation of existing housing stock.
(2) Definition. “Affordable housing” is typically broken into three categories based on family income. Because of the increase in housing values in the past five years, all three categories of affordable housing are desired within the planning area.
(a) “Very low income” means those families earning below 50 percent of County-wide median income can afford the rent or sale price.
(b) “Low income” means those families earning 50 to 80 percent of County-wide median income can afford the rent or sale price.
(c) “Moderate income” means those families earning 80 to 95 percent of County-wide median income can afford the rent or sale price.
(3) Cost of Housing. The 1990 U.S. Census indicated that a family earning the family median income in Clallam County could purchase a home of average value in the Port Angeles region. While the census figures indicate that housing is affordable in the Port Angeles region to a family earning the median income, one must weigh the fact that the average home value figures are on the low side due to the large number of older homes in the region. New homes in the Port Angeles region sell for prices that are out of reach for many families in Clallam County. The census also demonstrated that manufactured housing is an affordable housing option for many residents of the Port Angeles region.
(4) Affordable Housing Types. The types of affordable housing available within the Port Angeles area include:
•Multifamily in Port Angeles;
•Mobile home parks, such as Welcome Inn, Elmer’s Trailer Park, etc.;
•Housing developments which have manufactured housing;
•Urban density housing with small lot sizes, such as Gales Addition; and
•Accessory housing, such as converted basements and guest houses.
(5) Regulations. Additional regulations and costs for public services and facilities can drive up the cost of housing. Limiting densities in rural areas may make the area more exclusive, which could raise property values and thus, property taxes.
Flexible zoning techniques could lower the cost of some property. Rather than establishing minimum lot sizes in rural areas, land divisions could be based on maximum residential density. Utilizing flexible zoning, a landowner might be able to place lots closer to required services, such as roads and electricity, thus lowering the cost for development of the lots.