Marysville talks middle housing at open house
MARYSVILLE — Marysville planning staff are hoping to minimize the impacts of new changes to its land use laws while leaving enough flexibility for new housing, staff shared at an open house Monday.
The changes, mandated by state housing laws passed in 2023, will allow more housing types like duplexes, triplexes and townhomes — known as middle housing — in all residential areas, including areas previously designated only for single-family homes. State law will also reduce the number of parking spaces required per housing unit and allow for more accessory dwelling units.
The state passed the laws in an attempt to increase the availability of housing, which experts say could bring down prices and combat Washington’s housing affordability crisis.
The city is hoping to hit a “sweet spot,” Marysville Principal Planner Angela Gemmer said at the open house. It’s attempting to balance between meeting the state law’s intent and growth targets while making sure the changes aren’t too intense in a city primarily made up of single-family homes.
“Those are our two overarching goals,” Gemmer said. “Minimizing impacts and making sure we still have capacity to accommodate our housing allocation.”
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