Housing Coordinator Holden Fleming speaks to the Port Angeles City Council at their regular meeting on Tuesday, when new zoning codes were adopted in an effort to bring additional housing to the city. (Peter Segall/Peninsula Daily News)

Housing Coordinator Holden Fleming speaks to the Port Angeles City Council at their regular meeting on Tuesday, when new zoning codes were adopted in an effort to bring additional housing to the city. (Peter Segall/Peninsula Daily News)

Port Angeles updates zoning regulations

As it aims for additional housing, city revises code

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles City Council has adopted new zoning codes in an effort to encourage additional housing to the city.

In a unanimous vote, council members Tuesday evening approved the dozens of changes proposed by the city’s Planning Commission that would allow for additional housing types in residential and commercial zones in hopes of creating higher housing density.

“I’m really excited that this is going to create more housing choices and options,” said council member Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin.

“It’s not going to solve things overnight. It’ll probably be five to 10 years before we’ll see the benefits of this.”

Staff and council have been revising the city’s zoning code since 2017. In 2019, the council adopted a housing action plan to address the lack of affordable housing. In December, the city began a public outreach campaign it called Pursuing Housing for All, which included multiple community meetings and online surveys.

According to city officials, 82 people attended a Jan. 23 public workshop and there were more than 450 responses to online surveys.

Changes approved by the council include allowing up to four units on 7,000-square-foot lots, allowing for housing units to be situated on alleyways and reducing the lot size requirements for trailer parks from 4 acres to half a city block.

The city also changed many of its residential zones from single family to mixed density and reduced size requirements for manufactured homes if they meet building code requirements.

Port Angeles and many other cities are taking advantage of a state law that allows for changes to be made to the zoning code without appeal under the state Environmental Policy Act or the Growth Management Act if the changes are made before April 1.

Mayor Kate Dexter said at the meeting the changes were part of a longer process to bring additional housing to the city.

“It’s this and what comes next,” Dexter said. “We’re looking forward to what comes next.”

Several members of the public gave testimony that spoke to the challenges of finding affordable housing in the city.

Pete Johnson, human resources manager at McKinley Paper Mill, said the cost of local housing is often an impediment to hiring.

“We try to get them to come work for us and it’s a heartbreaking experience,” Johnson said.

“They love the company, they love the location, they love the opportunities that we provide, but they can’t get their arms around housing prices,” he said.

“One out of two or three people give us that type of explanation as to why they’re not in Port Angeles.”

U.S. Coast Guard Commander Roger Barr also cited housing costs as a challenge for service members assigned to the area.

In response to concerns voiced by the community at previous meetings, council members also voted to create a new section of city code, creating standards for the placement of temporary housing.

At a Feb. 9 meeting of the Planning Commission, members of the public expressed concern at the city’s proposal to allow temporary use permits for RVs as an emergency form of housing.

The new section will cover various kinds of temporary housing, according to Housing Coordinator Holden Fleming, including RVs, safe parking areas and tiny home villages.

There is not currently a timeline for when the new code will be written, Fleming said, but proposals will be brought before the city council in the coming months.

________

Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Clallam County Fire District 2 firefighters, with assistance from surrounding districts, work to extinguish fire of beach logs and grasses that scorched a stretch of beach along the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the north end of Four Seasons Ranch and threatened numerous homes on Saturday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Beach blaze contained at Morse Creek

Saturday fire worried homeowners, but no structures affected

Overnight closures of Hood Canal Bridge begin Tuesday

The Hood Canal Bridge will be closed to vehicles, bicyclists… Continue reading

David Conklin/Jefferson County Farmers Markets
Heath Wade enjoys opening day at the Chimacum Farmers Market in 2022.
Chimacum Farmers Market opens Sunday

Special events planned for first day of season

tsr
Crumb family funds nursing scholarship

$150K endowment to aid Clallam County students going to St. Martin’s University

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
The Port Angeles Red Lion Hotel and adjoining 48º North Waterfront Restaurant, shown Friday, are working on plans to expand and upgrade the current facilities, which will include incursion into the existing parking lot -- a proposal that would have an effect on the annual Port Angeles Crab Festival.
Port Angeles city seeks Red Lion expansion comments

Plans won’t affect CrabFest this year but will in future

Kestner Homestead Trail footbridge to be closed for repairs

The footbridge over Kestner Creek along the Kestner… Continue reading

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Gov. Jay Inslee  looks at a patient simulator as Peninsula College nursing instructional technician Terresa Taylor describes its workings during a tour of the college's Nursing Simulation Lab on Friday in Port Angeles.
Inslee tours Port Angeles projects

Town ‘pumping on all cylinders,’ he said

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Serenity House, Jefferson burn ban on county agendas

Govenment meetings across North Olympic Peninsula

Most Read