2025 Middle Housing Plan
The Town of Beaux Arts Village is undertaking the development of regulations that will allow middle housing as required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), RCW 36.70A.130(5) and legislation passed in the 2023 and 2024 Legislative sessions. The Planning Commission will be studying the legislative requirements in light of the unique characteristics of Beaux Arts Village to determine how to modify the Town's Zoning Code to meet these requirements while safeguarding the Town's urban forest, ensuring safety on our narrow streets, and preserving the integrity of our water utility.
What is Middle Housing?
Middle housing is a term for homes that are between detached single-family houses and large multifamily complexes. Examples include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, courtyard apartments, cottage housing, stacked flats and townhomes. Middle housing types have the same height, lot coverage and setback regulations as single-family homes. This leads middle housing buildings to be house-sized, with a footprint, scale, and form similar to a single-family home while containing more than one unit. Middle housing can also be more affordable (for renters or owners) than a single-family home and can therefore be more attainable for middle income families.
How will recent Middle Housing Legislation affect Beaux Arts?
In 2023 and 2024, the Washington State Legislature passed several significant housing and land use bills that are intended to expand the state’s housing supply.
House Bill (HB) 1110 requires cities and towns in the state to allow for a broader range of housing types in areas where predominantly detached single-family homes exist. HB 1110 created three “tiers” of cities and towns across the state, based on both city/town and county populations, as well as proximity to large cities. Beaux Arts falls into the category of tier 3: Cities with a population less than 25,000, located in a county with a population of more than 275,000, and in a contiguous urban growth area with the largest city in the county. As a tier 3 town, Beaux Arts will be required to allow 2 dwelling units per lot. The units must still comply with development standards set for individual lots, meaning that new dwellings must comply with the existing height, setbacks, and lot coverage requirements.
The Town will also update regulations to comply with HB 1337, which allows for at least two accessory dwelling units on one lot in addition to the primary residential unit.
What is the deadline for the Town to implement the required Middle Housing Policies?
The deadline established in the law for cities and towns to adopt middle housing regulations in accordance with the new middle housing legislation is June 30, 2025.
Can the Town refuse to comply with this new legislation?
Washington State requires cities and towns, including Beaux Arts, to follow the Growth Management Act (GMA). Beaux Arts must allow property owners to build ADUs and middle housing units under the laws adopted by the State Legislature. Cities and towns which do not comply with the GMA are subject to financial sanctions.
How can I stay involved or learn more about middle housing?
In the upcoming months, the Planning Commission be discussing middle housing during their monthly meetings which are always open to the public. Meeting agendas are posted on the Town’s website and on the mail stands.
Important news and other information will be posted to the Town’s website and published in the Town’s monthly newsletters.
The Washington State Department of Commerce has published several guides and documents including middle housing model ordinances.