PORT TOWNSEND — The City Council unanimously approved lifting a manufactured housing prohibition in the city’s uptown district Monday night.
The city zoning code allows manufactured homes in all portions of the city where single-family residences are allowed, except in the uptown district.
The state Legislature ruled in 2004 that cities must eliminate such special restrictions.
Concerned about affordable housing, the lawmakers required that municipalities should treat manufactured homes in the same way as other types of single-family home construction.
“We must eliminate the prohibition on manufactured housing in the historic district — that’s not an option,” the Long Range Planning Department Director Jeff Randall told the City Council.
Besides eliminating the ban, the council could choose to tailor design standards for manufactured homes or impose none, said Randall.
Two hours later, the council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance lifting the prohibition.
The issue comes back during a City Council meeting scheduled at 6:30 p.m. July 5 in the Waterman and Katz Building, 181 Quincy St.
