WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Density rule change aimed at affordable housing (VIDEO)

Rachel Rosen reports from the Oak Harbor City Council meeting of Tue., Jul. 12, 2022.

Oak Harbor officials took a step they hope will help with the affordable housing crisis on Whidbey Island.

At a meeting Tuesday, city council members passed a measure that decreases the minimum size of housing lots allowed in city code. The hope is that allowing smaller residential lots means more housing can be built, which may hopefully someday lead to an increase in affordable housing.

They Said It

Councilmember Jim Woessner said this was a recommendation that came about four or five years ago from the affordable housing task force.

“We felt it would probably be one of the single drivers of creating more affordable housing in Oak Harbor,” Woessner said. “I’m not talking about low income housing or anything, I’m just talking about making housing in general more affordable.”