Affordable Housing Task Force to meet week from today
Greetings,
David Swartling, head of Bethany’s Affordable Housing Task Force, has announced that the group will meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, at Bethany. As you know, the group is working to place affordable-housing units on Bethany’s undeveloped portion of land. Here’s what David had to say about the effort, below. There will be wine and goodies at the meeting. All are invited.
- Rachel Pritchett, office administrator
Dear Affordable Housing advocates—
Although Barbara and I were in a different hemisphere most of February, we are ramping-up again on the work of Bethany’s Affordable Housing Task Force (aka the South 40Task Force). Indeed, there is important new information to share, and we will meet at Bethany at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 18 to discuss the information described below and potential next steps.
Bainbridge architect Jonathan Davis has advised us about an important action taken by the Washington legislature in 2019 regarding affordable housing. For your ready reference, I enclose a copy of Substitute House Bill 1377 (which now has been codified in the following sections of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 35A.63.280, RCW 35A.63.300, and RCW 36.70A.545). Section 1 provides as follows:
(1) A city planning under this chapter must allow an increased density bonus consistent with local needs for any affordable housing development of any single-family or multifamily residence located on real property owned or controlled by a religious organization . . . . “
Note the word “must” in the statute! You also should know that the proposed "affordable housing development" must be occupied exclusively by low-income households, which is defined to mean that the sales price or rent amount may not exceed 30% of the income limit for a low income housing unit. (Phedra Elliott of HRB has advised that this translates to a rent of $962/month for a family of three in a two bedroom unit.)
Based on a review of the statute, I sent the email below to COBI City Manager Morgan Smith yesterday. As indicated in my email, this statute may provide the mechanism to avoid a protracted dispute regarding a zoning change and allow our congregation to come up with an “Innovations Program”, as called for in the BI Affordable Housing Task Force Report. (Thanks again to Stephen Deines and Ed Kushner for their excellent work as part of the Task Force!) Although we expect that Ms. Smith and others at COBI are busy addressing coronavirus issues, I hope that we hear back soon so that we can ask her the pivotal Lutheran question: “What does this mean?”.
Even if we don’t have a response from COBI, we need to meet because there are looming deadlines for several potential grant applications. These include: the Bethany Mission Endowment Fund (March 26); the Bainbridge Community Foundation (March 23); and the Grace Grants program administered by the Northwest Washington Synod (May 1). I hope to have either specific proposals for discussion or ideas to consider at our meeting. In addition, the meeting will provide the opportunity to brainstorm about next steps, including how to address fundraising and other issues.
Thanks again for your commitment to affordable housing and this prospective ministry of Bethany Lutheran Church. I hope to see you on March 18!
Lenten blessings—
David Swartling