Developers can now build certain multifamily housing in commercial or mixed-use zones within unincorporated parts of Vancouver. The Clark County Council unanimously passed code changes Friday that officials hope will immediately spur development of affordable housing. The changes are part of the county’s Housing Options Study and Action Plan, adopted in 2022 to identify housing challenges and solutions. The study found that almost half of all renters in the unincorporated area spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Affordable housing is typically defined as taking up less than a third of someone’s income. Although Councilor Gary Medvigy said the county values commercial property, he believes more affordable housing is worth creating an exemption for commercial zones.

“I think this is a very valuable program that we should pursue,” he said. The code changes will allow affordable apartments in commercial or mixed-use zones, but only within the unincorporated urban area around Vancouver. The code changes define “affordable” as within the budget for someone making 60 percent of the area’s median income ($49,560 a year for one person in Clark County). The apartments must remain affordable for at least 30 years. Before voting on the code changes, the council heard from residents. Teresa Hardy said apartments with an income limit of 60 percent of the area’s median income will not be affordable to people who need housing the most. “Even though this is addressing affordability, we’re not really addressing people making less than $49,000 a year,” Hardy said. Austin Hicks of the affordable housing developer Southport Financial Services said the company is struggling to find areas to develop more affordable housing within the county. Few sellers would go through the lengthy process to get an area rezoned for affordable housing, he said.

“Making this change would bring immediate relief to that and make change very, very quickly,” he said. Although councilors and county staff agreed that people making less than 60 percent of the area’s median income need affordable housing, they decided to keep the criteria for now. Later, the council may consider adding other types of development besides affordable housing to the exemption. “It’s really important that we at least make an attempt,” Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper said. “If we don’t get it right, I will be back in front of the council asking for an amendment to an amendment.”

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