Town of Steilacoom
Annual Housing Report
2010
Town of Steilacoom
Annual Housing Report 2010
As a part of the 2004 update to the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Department is directed to issue an annual Housing Report. The directive is contained in the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan:
To measure the Town’s progress toward achieving the Housing Element’s Goals and Policies, the Town staff shall annually compile and issue a report containing the following information:
· Number of new housing developments approved, methods used to achieve compatibility with surrounding neighborhood, and methods used to enhance the natural characteristics of the land
· Number of building permits for new residential units issued
· Number of new housing units in plats approved prior to 2004
· Number of multi-family and duplex housing units approved
· Ratio of multi-family to single family housing units in Town
· Number of group homes, modular homes, assisted living facilities, accessory dwelling units, and other non-traditional dwellings issued
· Number of design reviews completed by the Preservation & Review Board, number approved as submitted, number approved as modified, and number rejected
· Extent and nature of contact between Town and County Consortium
· List of surplus land considered appropriate for low-income housing
· Number of permits issued for housing repair, maintenance and rehabilitation projects
· The Town’s CLG status
· Information from Planning Commission neighborhood meetings, including number, topic, date, attendance
· Information from Planning Commission surveys
This report shall be presented to the Planning Commission and Town Council. The report may be used as a basis for revision, refinement or enhancement of the Comprehensive Plan and implementing regulations.
Platting Activity
New Housing Developments 2004-2010
Four new residential lots were created in Steilacoom in 2010, all by short plat.
No preliminary or final subdivisions were applied for or granted.
Type / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010Preliminary Subdivisions / 0 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 0
Final Subdivisions / 0 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0
Short Subdivisions / 2 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 2
Total Lots Created / 5 / 12 / 6 / 46 / 0 / 0 / 4
Comprehensive Plan Housing Policy 1.1 directs that new housing developments be sited and designed to be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and enhance the natural characteristics of the land.
Both short plats were in the Galloway/Lexington area. One short plat split a larger tract with an existing home into two lots. The new lots are similar in size to the surrounding lots.
The other short plat split a large lot into 4 lots. Three of the new lots are sized large enough for duplexes, and the remaining lot is slightly larger. There is an effort by a private group to acquire one or more of the lots for a possible park.
Permitting Activity
Housing Permit Data 2010
Applications for building permits for new housing units rose a bit from the low in 2009. Applications were made for 7 new housing units in 2010, all single family homes (SFR). The five year average (2006 – 2010) dropped to 13.2 new units per year.
Reportedly, lenders do not currently favor construction of rental units, preferring single family structures. In Steilacoom, duplex construction has fallen since the high of seven buildings (14 units) in 2001 to none since 2007.
None of the areas of Town zoned for Multi-family apartment buildings are vacant; consequently, no new applications for apartment buildings are anticipated.
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Policy 1.1 directs that the Town attempt to maintain the ratio of single family to multi-family housing to preserve the predominately single family character of the Town. Since 1995, 89% of the housing units issued permits in Steilacoom have been single family residences (SFR), and 11% have been duplex units. The ratio is now one multi-family unit for every 2.45 single family homes, up from 1:2.38 in 2004, the first year the ratio was calculated.
Comprehensive Plan Housing Policy 3.4 requires that Town regulations allow non-traditional housing units, such as Accessory Dwelling Units, boarding houses, group homes and modular homes. Two permits for ADUs were applied for in 2010.
Types / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010New Housing Building Permits – Issued / 21 / 16 / 25 / 23 / 8 / 5 / 7
New Housing Building Permits – Completed / 16 / 8 / 15 / 18 / 16 / 7 / 6
New Housing Units in Pre-2004 Plats (infill) / 19 / 15 / 16 / 5 / 1 / 4 / 2
Multi-Family Units - completed / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Duplexes - completed / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Ratio of Multi-family to Single Family
(see end notes) / 1:2.38 / 1:2.39 / 1:2.40 / 1:2.42 / 1:2.43 / 1:2.44 / 1:2.45
New Non-Traditional Housing Units / 1 (ADU) / 2 (ADU) / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 (ADU)
Building Permits for Housing Repair, Maintenance and Rehabilitation
Comprehensive Plan Housing Policy 3.1 requires that Town regulations preserve the existing housing stock through repair, maintenance and rehabilitation.
Comprehensive Plan Housing Policy 3.2 provides that Town regulations avoid unnecessary barriers to renovation of existing homes.
The table and chart below shows the number of permits issued for repair, maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing housing stock. The numbers show a rebound in remodeling activity from the low in 2009.
Year / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010Total / 224 / 205 / 234 / 185 / 223 / 162 / 219
Historic Preservation Activities
CLG Status
Comprehensive Plan Housing Policy 1.4 provides that the Town will strive to maintain its Certified Local Government status. To maintain CLG status, the Town must maintain a historic preservation commission and enforce state or local preservation laws.
The Town retained its status as a Certified Local Government under the National Historic Preservation Act as administered by the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in 2010.
Historic Preservation and Review Board Data 2004-2010
The Historic Preservation and Review Board approves the design of new buildings and major changes to the exterior of buildings within the Historic District and construction and modification of public buildings throughout Town. The Board reviewed five modifications of existing buildings in 2010, and approved them all.
Types / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010Total Design Reviews / 10 / 5 / 7 / 21 / 11 / 4 / 5
Approved as Submitted / 2 / 3 / 4 / 13 / 9 / 4 / 2
Modified & Approved / 5 / 2 / 3 / 6 / 2 / 0 / 3
Rejected / 3 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0
Affordable Housing Activites
County Urban Consortium Contacts
Comprehensive Plan Housing Policy 3.6 requires that the Town consider all available funding opportunities for affordable housing. The Town remained a member of the County Urban Consortium, the administrator of Community Block Grants for most of Pierce County.
Surplus Land
Comprehensive Plan Housing Policy 3.7 requires that the Town keep a list of surplus land suitable for use for low income housing by a non-profit. The Town has no land listed as surplus to its needs, and therefore none listed as appropriate for low-income housing.
Planning Commission Housing Activity
The Planning Commission began work on the Shoreline Master Program in 2010. It did not hold a neighborhood meeting or conduct a survey of Town residents specifically regarding housing issues in 2010.
End Notes:
Ratio of multi-family to single-family housing units
Year / Number of Multi-family Units - Completed / Number of Single Family Units - Completed / Ratio2004 / 810 / 1932 / 1:2.38
2005 / 810 / 1940 / 1:2.39
2006 / 812 / 1954 / 1:2.40
2007 / 814 / 1972 / 1:2.42
2008 / 816 / 1988 / 1:2.43
2009 / 816 / 1995 / 1:2.44
2010 / 816 / 2003 / 1:2.45
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