Affordable Housing.
My eight years of experience in county council and my time away from county council has given me a unique combination of experience and knowledge and time to reflect, listen and research. I’ve also spent the last few months visiting ALL the San Juan Islands every week to ensure I know what the people want and need. I’ve also leaned on the thought leaders in this sector. With their help, I look forward to helping solve our housing challenges. We’ll need bold, innovative, new ideas to help overcome them and I am ready with some.
What is the Council’s role with regard to affordable housing?
Affordable housing should be the top priority for the San Juan County Council. Our role is an important mix of: 1. Executing the 8 goals in the SJ County Comprehensive Plan Housing section as determined by staff, council and concerned islanders; 2. Collaborating with the Housing Advisory Committee to balance the needs of affordable housing and the environment; and 3. Most importantly, always listening to public input and pushing for innovative ideas.
Additionally, SJCC needs to make accessible/affordable housing permit approval a priority, expand the first-time home buyers fund and permit loans that allow for the purchase of land that can be used for more affordable livable structures (e.g, tiny homes, prefab, panelized kit homes) or critical infrastructure like septic. I also propose working with other providers to lower utility installation costs (which are often cost-prohibitive for potential homeowners) and make more land available for home construction. In addition, modifications to the guest house rule for affordable rentals are critical.
Are there specific Code changes or ideas you would propose to allow creation of more affordable housing?
I propose changing the current code to permit more flexibility with livable ADU’s (Accessory Dwelling Units) so that they can be built on smaller lots, on separate water/septic and be more than 100 feet away from the primary resident, always taking into account shoreline master plan and critical areas ordinances to minimize environmental impact. These ADUs and tiny homes for long-term renters or family need to be allowed with easy and prioritized permitting.
I also know that we need new bolder ideas to really be successful. I have been following the historical move on Cortes Island, which I’ll discuss when answering the next question.
For now, here are actions I support from the Comprehensive Plan Goals:
Allow bonuses for multi-family affordable housing development
Expand the existing density bonus program to provide further incentives for creating affordable housing in Urban Growth Areas and Activity Centers.
Allow up to 50% of dwelling units counted as affordable housing for the purpose of obtaining affordable housing privileges to be for moderate income households.
Establish a fund and identify funding sources to be used for the offset of building permit fees for affordable housing.
Change ADU rules
Allow Mobile Home/Tiny Home Parks
Increase funding of the first time home buyers loan program
Make all affordable housing permits discounted and approved as a priority
Encourage renewable energy options with all new construction.
Increase Farm worker housing density allowance
What new initiatives would you propose or support to increase the number of affordable housing units in San Juan County?
We need new and bolder ideas and I look forward to working with our councilmembers and islanders on those. I’ve been studying how other island economies around the world cope with housing and economy issues. Explore the validity of solutions by other islands. For instance, the island of Cortes in B.C., implemented a 3% lodging tax in 2023 added to the cost of a stay for a visitor that is collected from the tourist NOT from the property owner, with those funds going to affordable housing. And, let’s invest in making easy and safe-to-build pre-approved plans available, easy loans for first-time home buyers, including loans for the purchase of land to build tiny homes.
For the past few months I have visited all islands in our county every week. I called it my listening tour and I learned a lot from it. In addition to the ideas stated above here are others.
Using past experiences and my listening tour and personal exploration on the subject over the last few years, I am excited to develop or support new initiatives. To begin, I believe the San Juan County Council needs to help affordable housing builders secure funding from county, state and federal partners. Here are other ideas that are top of mind but by all means do not represent all of the initiatives I would support.
1.
Expand the existing density bonus program to provide further incentives for creating affordable housing in Urban Growth Areas and Activity Centers.
2.
Allow bonuses for multi-family affordable housing development.
3.
Allow up to 50% of dwelling units counted as affordable housing for the purpose of obtaining affordable housing privileges to be for moderate income households. Leverage local funding sources to attract state, federal and private dollars to support the development of housing affordability programs.
4.
Provide, as appropriate, for the sale or lease of County-owned land for permanently affordable housing development.
5.
Facilitate and support the development of down payment assistance programs such as the Equity Loan Program and work with banks to develop programs to roll down payments into mortgages.
6.
Lobby for funding support for affordable housing programs in rural areas using tax credits.