City of Selah Housing Action Plan (HAP)

City of Selah Housing Action Plan Next Public Meeting

Join us on Tuesday May 16, 2023, at 5:30pm in the Selah City Council Chambers

located at 115 W Naches Ave., Selah, WA 98942

Planning Commission – Housing Strategies Session

The City of Selah, like many cities across the state, are facing a range of housing issues and changing state regulations requiring the city to reexamine and update its housing goals and policies and development regulations.  Despite the continued developed of new housing in the city, the housing market remains highly competitive in our region with steep increases in rents for all forms of housing, and equally high prices for the purchase of new single-family homes.  In response to these changes, the City is asking, “what can we do to help make housing more available and affordable today, and prepare for the growth we expect to see in the coming years?” To help answer these questions, the city has started the process of developing a Housing Action Plan (HAP).  As one of the first steps in developing its HAP, and to help identify current housing issues, and future housing needs, the city is asking for your partition in its Housing Needs Assessment survey.  Through your participation in the Housing Needs Assessments Survey, the city hopes to learn from its residents, workers, and others who may wish to live in the City of Selah, what existing and future housing needs the city should focus on, and better accommodate in its HAP, future Comprehensive Plan, and development regulations.   The City is hopeful that development of a HAP which has greater public involvement could lead to a wider range of housing options to meet the current and future housing needs of its citizenry, as well as provide changes in its development regulations which could expand the range of housing types, bring down the cost of development, and incentivize housing that is more affordable.

City of Selah Housing Needs Assessment Survey

Be sure to enter your phone number or email at the end of the survey to be included in a drawing for a $250.00 gift certificate and be informed of future progress on the Housing Action Plan. If you are unable access the survey electronically or wish to fill out a traditional paper survey please contact the City of Selah’s Planning Division at 509-698-7365, or stop by any city office.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

Use your smart phone to scan the QR Code and complete the Housing Action Plan Survey!

What is a Housing Action Plan?

A Housing Action Plan (HAP) is a guidebook that provides the City of Selah with strategies and actions to help address its housing challenges. The intent of the HAP is to provide tools that can aid in the creation of a well-balanced housing market, one that supports residents with a wide range of housing needs. We develop strategies and actions based on the guidance of stakeholders, community members, research collected in the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA), and best practices from other growing communities. The HAP is an opportunity for the City of Selah to take a pulse on what is happening in the community in terms of access to and affordability of housing. The result of the HAP is a set of tools that can help policy makers and elected officials make informed decisions about planning for the future.

What does the Housing Needs Assessment Study address?

1. Community Profile: Who lives and works here, and what are their socioeconomic characteristics? How has population changed over time?
2. Local Workforce Profile: What type of jobs does the City of Prosser offer? Are residents commuting out of town every day to work?
3. Housing Inventory: What types of housing are available? How much does housing cost?
4. Gap Analysis: Is there enough housing for the current and future population? Is the housing stock affordable for Prosser residents?
5. Land Capacity Analysis: Does the City of Prosser have adequate developable land to accommodate the anticipated population and housing growth?

Additional Public Involvement Opportunities:

February 21, 2023 – Planning Commission Presentation (virtual) 4 p.m.
March 2, 2023 – City Council Retreat Presentation 10 a.m.
March 27, 2023-June 1, 2023 – Resident Conditions Survey
April 19, 2023 – Planning Commission Housing Needs Assessment (virtual) 5:30 p.m.
April 24, 2023 – Open House Housing Needs Assessment Civic Center 5 p.m.
April 25, 2023 – City Council Housing Needs Assessment Study Session 4 p.m.
April 26, 2023 – Meeting with Central Washington Home Builders (CWHBA) 3 p.m.  Selah City Council Chambers
May 16, 2023 – Planning Commission (virtual) 5:30 p.m.
June 20, 2023 – Planning Commission (virtual) 5:30 p.m. Housing Strategies
July 10, 2023 – Housing Action Plan Strategies Open House (virtual hosted through Zoom)
July 11, 2023 – City Council Housing Strategies Study Session 4 p.m.
July 18, 2023 – Planning Commission HAP Draft Implementation Plan Review (virtual) 5:30 p.m.
July 19 – August 12, 2023 – Conduct Voter Household Strategies Survey (postcard mailing by Beckwith)
August 14, 2023 – Housing Action Plan Open House (topic and venue to be determined)
August 15, 2023 – Planning Commission HAP Draft Implementation Plan and Voter Survey Results Review (virtual) 5:30 p.m.
September 12, 2023 – City Council Draft HAP Study Session 4 p.m.
October 10, 2023 – City Council Final HAP Review and Approval

Housing Style Visual Survey Community Days

The above image from left to right show eight different housing styles: Accessory Dwelling Unit, Duplex, Cottage, Townhouse, Courtyard Building, Multiplex, Live-Work (living space above business), and Studio Apartment/Small Efficiency Dwelling Unit (SEDU).
Housing Style Visual Survey Community Days – Friday Day 1 Results: Studio Apartment – 1%, Accessory Dwelling Units – 16%, Duplexes – 20%, Cottages – 21%, Townhouses – 8%, Courtyard Buildings – 8%, Multiplex – 4%, and Live – Work (commercial below dwellings) – 22%.
Housing Style Visual Survey Community Days – Saturday Day 2 Results: Studio Apartment – 2%, Accessory Dwelling Units – 13%, Duplexes – 19%, Cottages – 24%, Townhouses – 10%, Courtyard Buildings – 9%, Multiplex – 6%, and Live – Work (commercial below dwellings) – 17%.
Housing Style Visual Survey Community Days – Total Results
Housing TypesAccessory Dwelling UnitsDuplexesCottagesTownhousesCourtyard BuildingsMultiplexLive – Work (commercial below dwellings)SEDU (Studio Apartment)Total
Friday Day 1 Results13 16 176    6317179
  
Housing TypesAccessory Dwelling UnitsDuplexesCottagesTownhousesCourtyard BuildingsMultiplexLive – Work (commercial below dwellings)SEDU (Studio Apartment)
Saturday Day 2 Results53 76 9339    3725696398
  
Housing TypesAccessory Dwelling UnitsDuplexesCottagesTownhousesCourtyard BuildingsMultiplexLive – Work (commercial below dwellings)SEDU (Studio Apartment)
Total for Both Days66 9211045    4328867477
Housing Style Visual Survey Community Days – Total Results: Studio – 7, Accessory Dwelling Units – 66, Duplexes – 92, Cottages – 110, Townhouse – 45, Courtyard Buildings – 43, Multiplex – 28, Live – Work (commercial below dwellings) – 86, Total Number of Selections – 477.
Housing Style Visual Survey Community Days – Total Results: Studio Apartment – 2%, Accessory Dwelling Units – 14%, Duplexes – 19%, Cottages – 23%, Townhouses – 9%, Courtyard Buildings – 9%, Multiplex – 6%, and Live – Work (commercial below dwellings) – 18%.
Additional HAP Resources & Documents
  1. City of Selah HAP Proposal.
  2. City of Selah & Beckwith Consulting HAP Contract.
  3. City of Selah Council Retreat HAP Presentation (Beckwith).
  4. City of Selah Council Retreat HAP Presentation (Staff).
  5. Beckwith Planning Commission HAP Presentation 2-21-23.
  6. Beckwith HAP Demographics and Housing Assessment Survey Results – Planning Commission, Council, Open House, and Home Builders Presentation.
  7. Beckwith Planning Commission HAP Presentation – May 16, 2023.
  8. WA Dept Of Commerce Article
Frequently Asked Questions