In Moses Lake, housing production is not keeping pace with the demand, said Kevin Gifford, senior associate of Seattle-based BERK Consulting Inc., at a recent planning commission workshop.

Growth predictions through 2038, based on vacancy rate data and anecdotal evidence of stakeholders, indicate Moses Lake has a tight housing market with a low vacancy rate, meaning it needs additional housing production, he said prior to the regular city council meeting April 13.

In 2020, the city received a $100,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce for a revitalized Housing Action Plan, an outgrowth and evolution of the city based on the housing needs assessment presented to the council in the fall.

Because this would require contractors, data collection and public input, much of which overlaps with the overdue comprehensive plan, the city decided to marry the two plans and work on them in tandem.

From May through November 2020, the city gathered information from 43 online surveys, participants in an online city story map, nine 19-person community focus groups and six discussions with 13 stakeholders.

Housing affordability continues to be an increasing challenge, Gifford said. According to census data, from 2012 to 2018 the average home value climbed 47% in Moses Lake, while the median family income in Grant County climbed 19% in the same time frame.

As time goes on, the disparity increases, he said.

“This obviously has the potential to create additional burdens on potential homeowners or simply make it too difficult for people to make it into the housing market in the first place,” he said.

The most recent data for this analysis is 2018, said council member Karen Liebrecht, but this is likely not accurate, as a lot has changed in the two and a half years since.

BERK Consulting Inc. used the most recent census data, Gifford said, which ends in 2018. That said, he has paired this data with stakeholder input.

“We do recognize that some of those sources are a little bit older, but we are doing our best to supplement that with more recent information from city staff,” he said.

In addition to the housing disparity, there is a mismatch between housing options available and the current makeup of people who live in the city, he said. In Moses Lake, the housing options are mostly two- and three-bedroom, whereas the majority of households are one or two people.

The Housing Action Plan proposes three major goals to address this, Gifford said. First, increasing housing production to relieve demand pressures. Second, address housing affordability with more mid-priced homes and more income-restricted housing. Third, encourage a variety in housing stock with options for older adults and young professionals via expanding the types of homes allowed in different residential zones.

To achieve these goals, Gifford put forth seven strategies. First, reduce the minimum lot size in residential zones. Second, allow housing types, such as townhomes and duplexes in existing residential zones. Third, streamline the permitting process, as public engagement meetings have indicated the current process is cumbersome and unpredictable. Fourth, integrate added flexibility for a planned or clustered subdivision into the zoning code.

Fifth, encourage income-restricted affordable housing development via development regulation, density perks and partnerships with nonprofits. Sixth, facilitate the production of accessory dwelling units, or additional small housing on bigger properties.

Seventh, invest in infrastructure strategically, including transportation consideration and utility capacity depending on where the new developments arise.

“We can’t just create housing out of thin air,” Gifford said. “It does need to be served, so we want to make sure that’s part of everyone’s thinking going forward.”

After the adoption of the updated Housing Action Plan and comprehensive plan, the city plans to update zoning codes to reflect the goals set in place.

The city council intends to make its final consideration and adoption of the updated plans in June, said City Manager Allison Williams, but this may be pushed back because of its complexity, as well as COVID-19 delays.

The council will have several more workshops between now and then, she said.