Key Commitments
Accommodate 31,600 new residents by 2022; 14,800 new housing units needed by 2022; 42,799 total households projected by 2022
Goals
(16 total)
- HV-1: Regulations encourage innovative housing and mixtures of housing types that preserve natural resources and consolidate open space.
- HV-2: Increased housing density and infill exists in downtown and other appropriate areas, reflecting a variety of housing costs.
- HV-3: Density bonuses for well-designed housing that complements existing neighborhood integrity supplement new opportunities for accessory and duplex/triplex options.
- HV-4: Rehabilitation and housing financing programs support maintenance of older/historic housing, including programs to assist low income households.
- HV-5: Increases in supply of housing for low income households result from assistance to nonprofits and inclusionary zoning provisions.
- HV-6: On-going efforts to address housing affordability include streamlining regulatory review and reviewing infrastructure cost impacts.
- HG-1: Bellingham has a healthy mix of housing sizes, types, and prices, affordable at the wages of nearby jobs.
- HG-2: Consider long-term lifecycle cost affordability through cost-saving materials and low-impact development techniques.
- HG-3: Increase housing opportunities for a broad range of income levels, including owner-occupied and rental options.
- HG-4: Consider minimum density requirements for residential and commercial zones to preserve affordable housing capacity.
- HG-5: Encourage live-work development as a way to minimize housing costs and home-to-work trips.
- HG-6: Encourage upper floor residential units above ground floor commercial and office uses.
- HG-7: Create and maintain sound, viable neighborhoods, and revitalize those that are declining.
- HG-8: Encourage elimination of discrimination from the housing market.
- HG-9: Enact clear land use and development procedures for housing development while protecting public welfare.
- HG-10: Increase wages and reduce housing costs so a family with average income can afford an average priced home.
Stronger Policy Language (11 policies)
- HP-9: Promote increased housing opportunities for all economic segments and special needs groups in the community through the use of both private and public financing.
- HP-14: Seek perpetual affordability achievable through non-profit-owned rental housing and certain forms of homeownership including community land trusts...
- HP-17: Support reasonable enforcement of all fair housing rules and regulations.
- HP-19: Provide for both detached and attached accessory dwelling units as a means of securing diversification and affordability in single family zoning districts.
- HP-21: Ensure the availability of lot sizes that are small enough to be cost effective for developers and affordable for potential homeowners.
- HP-26: Provide a variety of densities to encourage a range of housing types to meet the needs of different household types and sizes.
- HP-29: Establish criteria to allow developers flexibility with planned residential design regulations and increased density, in exchange for better quality design.
- HP-33: Increase funding for the preservation and development of affordable housing.
- HP-34: Plan for and support assisted housing using federal, state and local funds.
- HP-36: Give priority emphasis in housing rehabilitation programs to assisting low and moderate income persons.
- HP-40: Monitor and influence state and federal legislation related to housing through organizations such as the Association of Washington Cities.
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (31 policies)
- HP-1: Encourage public and private investment to keep existing neighborhoods safe and attractive.
- HP-2: Promote housing development that is compatible with the overall style and character of the established neighborhood.
- HP-3: Encourage the rehabilitation of historically and architecturally significant homes in deteriorated condition.
- HP-11: Encourage housing programs which facilitate home ownership for all economic segments of the population, including lower income households.
- HP-13: Encourage a balanced distribution of affordable housing throughout the city.
- HP-15: Explore incentives, strategies, and requirements to achieve a healthy mix of housing sizes, types, and prices...
- HP-20: Encourage infill development on land which remains vacant or underutilized, in otherwise built-up areas.
- HP-28: Encourage the use of innovative design by builders and developers to produce a variety of desirable, lower cost housing...
- HP-32: Promote the incorporation "Built Green" principles in all housing developments.
- HP-43: Encourage and support social and human services organizations which offer support programs for those with special needs.