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SEP20-0008_HB CITY OF FIFE, WASHINGTON DETERMINATION OF NONSIGNIFICANCE Project Name: HB 1923 Housing Options Code Amendments Project Applicant: Fife Community Development Department Community Development Director ATTN: Taylor Jones, 5411 23rd St E Fife, WA 98424 Description of Proposals: The proposal includes adopting 4 sets of code amendments identified in the City’s grant agreement with the State Department of Commerce under HB 1923. A general description of the 4 sets of code amendments is listed below, and additional information, including proposed text, can be found at https://www.cityoffife.org/503/HB1923-Grant---Housing-Options Accessory Dwelling units.  Detached ADU’s will now be allowed on lots larger than 4,356 square feet.  There is still an owner occupancy requirement. ADU’s are allowed to be rented but not sold separately from the single family home.  ADU will be required to accommodate parking on site.  Impact fees will be assessed at 50% the rate of a single family home.  Certain design criteria have been added.  The ADU will be required to be metered jointly with the principle residence. Subdivision  Both short plats (up to 9 lots) and long plats (10 lots or more) require a preliminary plat approval.  A preliminary short plat is approved by the Community Development Director and exempt from Environmental review (unless critical areas existing on site)  A preliminary long plat is approved by the Hearing Examiner after a public hearing, and is NOT exempt from Environmental review.  The approval criteria for preliminary short and long plat are the same.  A final short plat is approved administratively by the Community Development Director.  A final long plat is approved by the City Council.  The approval criteria for final short and longs plats are the same. Duplex on corner lots  Duplexes will now be a permitted use in the Single Family Residential District, provided they are located on a corner lot.  Corner lot duplexes in the Single Family Residential District will be subject to the same development standards as a single family home.  All new and relocated corner lot duplexes will be subject to a new set of ADR requirements specific to corner lot duplexes. The ADR requirements are related to building orientation and vehicular access. Exemptions due to site-specific constraints may be considered and approved administratively. 2 Triplexes  “Dwelling, triplex” will now be included under definitions in the zoning code.  Triplex will now be a permitted use in the following zones: Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Neighborhood Residential, Neighborhood Commercial, Community Commercial, and Regional Commercial.  The use “multifamily structure containing three to six dwelling units” will now be “multifamily structure containing four to six dwelling units” in the abovementioned zones, where applicable. Location of Proposal: City-wide, City of Fife Case No: SEP20-0008 Lead Agency: City of Fife The lead agency for this proposal has determined that the proposed action does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment, and an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required, provided the attached mitigation measures in attachment A, are implemented concurrent with the proposal. This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency. This information is available to the public on request, or by visiting the City’s Public Portal at https://ci-fife- wa.smartgovcommunity.com/PublicNotice/PublicNoticeHome Public Comment Deadline: This DNS is issued under WAC 197-11-340(2). The lead agency will not take final action on this proposal prior to the appeal deadline. The public is invited to comment on this DNS by submitting written comments to the City of Fife, Attn: Chris Larson, Senior Planner, 5411 23rd Street East, Fife, WA 98424 or by email at clarson@cityoffife.org. Comments must be received by 5:00 pm on Monday January 4th, 2021. Appeal: Parties with standing may appeal this decision to the hearing examiner by submitting a written notice of appeal in accordance with FMC Chapter 14.10, along with a check for the applicable appeal fee, to the Fife Community Development Department, 5411 23rd Street East, Fife, WA 98424, within 14 days of the close of the public comment period. The deadline for appeals shall therefore be Monday January 18th, 2021 at 5:00 pm. Please call the Community Development Department at 253-922-9625 for any questions regarding the above application Responsible Official: December 21st, 2020 Chris Larson, AICP Date: Senior Planner SEPA Responsible Official SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 1 of 6 SEPA ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Purpose of checklist: Governmental agencies use this checklist to help determine whether the environmental impacts of your proposal are significant. This information is also helpful to determine if available avoidance, minimization or compensatory mitigation measures will address the probable significant impacts or if an environmental impact statement will be prepared to further analyze the proposal. Instructions for applicants: This environmental checklist asks you to describe some basic information about your proposal. Please answer each question accurately and carefully, to the best of your knowledge. You may need to consult with an agency specialist or private consultant for some questions. You may use “not applicable” or "does not apply" only when you can explain why it does not apply and not when the answer is unknown. You may also attach or incorporate by reference additional studies reports. Complete and accurate answers to these questions often avoid delays with the SEPA process as well as later in the decision-making process. The checklist questions apply to all parts of your proposal, even if you plan to do them over a period of time or on different parcels of land. Attach any additional information that will help describe your proposal or its environmental effects. The agency to which you submit this checklist may ask you to explain your answers or provide additional information reasonably related to determining if there may be significant adverse impact. Instructions for Lead Agencies: Please adjust the format of this template as needed. Additional information may be necessary to evaluate the existing environment, all interrelated aspects of the proposal and an analysis of adverse impacts. The checklist is considered the first but not necessarily the only source of information needed to make an adequate threshold determination. Once a threshold determination is made, the lead agency is responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the checklist and other supporting documents. Use of checklist for nonproject proposals: For nonproject proposals (such as ordinances, regulations, plans and programs), complete the applicable parts of sections A and B plus the SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET FOR NONPROJECT ACTIONS (part D). Please completely answer all questions that apply and note that the words "project," "applicant," and "property or site" should be read as "proposal," "proponent," and "affected geographic area," respectively. The lead agency may exclude (for non- projects) questions in Part B - Environmental Elements –that do not contribute meaningfully to the analysis of the proposal. A. Background [HELP] 1. Name of proposed project, if applicable: HB 1923 Housing Options Code Amendments 2. Name of applicant: City of Fife Community Development Department 3. Address and phone number of applicant and contact person: SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 2 of 6 Taylor Jones 253-896-8638 tjones@cityoffife.org 4. Date checklist prepared: December 17th, 2020 5. Agency requesting checklist: City of Fife 6. Proposed timing or schedule (including phasing, if applicable): Planning Commission Public Hearing and Recommendation – January 4th 2021 Council Adoption process January – February. 7. Do you have any plans for future additions, expansion, or further activity related to or connected with this proposal? If yes, explain. During review of this project staff identified additional amendments that could be taken to encourage housing options and consistency in the Fife Municipal Code. These amendments will be undertaken in the coming years. Additional SEPA analysis will be conducted on any future code amendmetns. 8. List any environmental information you know about that has been prepared, or will be prepared, directly related to this proposal: None 9. Do you know whether applications are pending for governmental approvals of other proposals directly affecting the property covered by your proposal? None. 10. List any government approvals or permits that will be needed for your proposal, if known. None 11. Give brief, complete description of your proposal, including the proposed uses and the size of the project and site. The proposal includes adopting 4 sets of code amendments identified in the City’s grant agreement with the State Departmetn of Commerce under HB 1923. A general description of the 4 sets of code amendments is listed below, and additional information, including proposed text, can be found at https://www.cityoffife.org/503/HB1923-Grant---Housing-Options Accessory Dwelling units.  Detached ADU’s will now be allowed on lots larger than 4,356 square feet.  There is still an owner occupancy requirement. ADU’s are allowed to be rented but not sold separately from the single family home.  ADU will be required to accommodate parking on site.  Impact fees will be assessed at 50% the rate of a single family home.  Certain design criteria have been added.  The ADU will be required to be metered jointly with the principle residence. Subdivision  Both short plats (up to 9 lots) and long plats (10 lots or more) require a preliminary plat approval. SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 3 of 6  A preliminary short plat is approved by the Community Development Director and exempt from Environmental review (unless critical areas exist on site)  A preliminary long plat is approved by the Hearing Examiner after a public hearing, and is NOT exempt from Environmental review.  The approval criteria for preliminary short and long plats are the same.  A final short plat is approved administratively by the Community Development Director.  A final long plat is approved by the City Council.  The approval criteria for final short and longs plats are the same. Duplex on corner lots  Duplexes will now be a permitted use in the Single Family Residential District, provided they are located on a corner lot.  Corner lot duplexes in the Single Family Residential District will be subject to the same development standards as a single family home.  All new and relocated corner lot duplexes will be subject to a new set of ADR requirements specific to corner lot duplexes. The ADR requirements are related to building orientation and vehicular access. Exemptions due to site-specific constraints may be considered and approved administratively. Triplexes  “Dwelling, triplex” will now be included under definitions in the zoning code.  Triplex will now be a permitted use in the following zones: Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Neighborhood Residential, Neighborhood Commercial, Community Commercial, and Regional Commercial.  The use “multifamily structure containing three to six dwelling units” will now be “multifamily structure containing four to six dwelling units” in the abovementioned zones, where applicable. 12. Location of the proposal. Give sufficient information for a person to understand the precise location of your proposed project, including a street address, if any, and section, township, and range, if known. If a proposal would occur over a range of area, provide the range or boundaries of the site(s). Provide a legal description, site plan, vicinity map, and topographic map, if reasonably available. While you should submit any plans required by the agency, you are not required to duplicate maps or detailed plans submitted with any permit applications related to this checklist. The proposal covers municipal code amendments which will apply City wide. B. Environmental Elements [HELP] Pursuant to WAC 197-11-960, the lead agency may exclude any question for the environmental elements (Part B) which they determine do not contribute meaningfully to the analysis of the proposal. 9. Housing [help] a. Approximately how many units would be provided, if any? Indicate whether high, mid- dle, or low-income housing. No housing units will be provided by the adoption of the proposed code amendments. There has been no analysis of how many housing units will be constructed, by private developers, as a direct result of adopting the proposed code amendmnets. b. Approximately how many units, if any, would be eliminated? Indicate whether high, middle, or low-income housing. SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 4 of 6 No housing units will be elimnitated as a result of this proposal. c. Proposed measures to reduce or control housing impacts, if any: The proposal includes measures to increase the type of housing options that can be constructed within Fife. C. Signature [HELP] The above answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that the lead agency is relying on them to make its decision. Signature: ___________________________________________________ Name of signee __Taylor Jones_______________________________________________ Position and Agency/Organization __Associate Planner, City of Fife__________________ Date Submitted: _12/18/20____________ SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 5 of 6 D. Supplemental sheet for nonproject actions [HELP] (IT IS NOT NECESSARY to use this sheet for project actions) Because these questions are very general, it may be helpful to read them in conjunction with the list of the elements of the environment. When answering these questions, be aware of the extent the proposal, or the types of activities likely to result from the proposal, would affect the item at a greater intensity or at a faster rate than if the proposal were not implemented. Respond briefly and in general terms. 1. How would the proposal be likely to increase discharge to water; emissions to air; pro- duction, storage, or release of toxic or hazardous substances; or production of noise? The proposal is not likely to increase discharges to water emissions to air; production, storage, or release of toxic or hazardous substances; or production of noise Proposed measures to avoid or reduce such increases are: None. 2. How would the proposal be likely to affect plants, animals, fish, or marine life? The proposal is not likely to affect plants, animals, fish or marine line. Proposed measures to protect or conserve plants, animals, fish, or marine life are: None. Existing regualations to protect these plants, animals, fish or marine will apply to any development that results from the proposed code amendments. 3. How would the proposal be likely to deplete energy or natural resources? The proposal is not likely to depelete energy or natural resources. Proposed measures to protect or conserve energy and natural resources are: None. 4. How would the proposal be likely to use or affect environmentally sensitive areas or areas designated (or eligible or under study) for governmental protection; such as parks, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, threatened or endangered species habitat, historic or cultural sites, wetlands, floodplains, or prime farmlands? The proposal will not affect environmentally sensitive areas for other areas. Existing regulations to protect these features will apply to any development that results from the proposed code amendments. Proposed measures to protect such resources or to avoid or reduce impacts are: Existing regulations to protect these features will apply to any development that results from the proposed code amendments. 5. How would the proposal be likely to affect land and shoreline use, including whether it would allow or encourage land or shoreline uses incompatible with existing plans? The proposal is not likely to affect land and shoreline use. Proposed measures to avoid or reduce shoreline and land use impacts are: SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 6 of 6 The City’s Shoreline Master Program apply to any development that results from the proposed code amendments. 6. How would the proposal be likely to increase demands on transportation or public services and utilities? The proposal is not likely to greatly increase demands on transportation or public services or utilities. Proposed measures to reduce or respond to such demand(s) are: Existing development regulations and impact fees should address any increase in demands. 7. Identify, if possible, whether the proposal may conflict with local, state, or federal laws or requirements for the protection of the environment. There are no conflicts with local, state, or federal requirements related to protection of the environment. Any development that results from the proposed code amendments will be subject to all applicable environmental regulations.