PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles residents can review and comment on the city’s draft 2025 Housing Action Plan and Housing Needs Assessment.
A Housing Action Plan (HAP) is a strategic document that details the specific actions a city, town or region can take to tackle housing needs and challenges. The document serves as a roadmap for communities to ensure its residents have access to safe, stable and affordable housing, according to a press release.
The city’s draft plan presents a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing issues of housing affordability, supply shortages and displacement risks caused by geographic, economic and infrastructure-related challenges, the press release stated.
Building on the progress made since the adoption of the 2019 Housing Action Plan, the 2025 draft proposes targeted actions across six areas, all of which support increasing housing variety and addressing homelessness.
• Increase housing supply and variety: Expand initiatives like the Housing Pipeline Project, co-living code updates and workshops for multifamily builders. Encourage infill development through continued zoning and permitting reforms.
• Improve affordability: Leverage the affordable housing sales and use tax to fund projects for residents earning at or below 60 percent of area median income (AMI). Continue the multifamily property tax exemption (MFTE) program with enhanced anti-displacement safeguards.
• Preserve existing housing: Continue programs like the city of Port Angeles weatherization program and enforce blighted property reduction strategies to address vacant or unfit buildings.
• Promote homeownership: Explore down-payment assistance programs in partnership with local financial institutions and community organizations to support first-time buyers.
• Address homelessness: Create a city-wide homelessness navigator position to coordinate services, bridge gaps and connect residents with resources.
• Prevent displacement: Consider policies and incentives to empower tenants and nonprofit organizations to preserve affordable housing stock.
The Housing Action Plan can be reviewed at tinyurl.com/PDN-Housing-Action-Plan. Comments are due by Oct. 22 and can be emailed to vision2045@cityofpa.us.
The plan will be discussed at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 during a city planning commission meeting at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
There will be more opportunities to learn more and provide feedback this fall, including a planning commission public hearing on Oct. 22. The staff report for the public hearing will be published to the city website on Oct. 17, according to the press release.
The final Housing Action Plan will be integrated into the city’s comprehensive plan update, which is scheduled to be completed by December.
For more information, visit cityofpa.us/Vision2045, call the Community & Economic Development Department at 360-417-4750 or email vision2045@cityofpa.us.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
