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Residential Infill Pilot Program

 

The intent of the Residential Infill Pilot Program is to promote innovative residential infill while ensuring that such infill demonstrates high quality building and site design that is responsive to and harmonious with neighborhood patterns and character. The City hopes to see successful and well-regarded examples of these housing types built, as a way to inform future Council decisions on Tacoma’s regulatory approach to these housing types, including Home In Tacoma.

 

The RIPP permits four different housing types: Two-Family, Small Multi-Family, Cottage, and Planned Infill. A maximum of six developments for each of the housing types are permitted within each of the City’s five Council Districts for a maximum 120 developments possible citywide.

 

Development proposals require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application and approval.

In addition to satisfying general CUP criteria, developments must demonstrate the following specific RIPP criteria:

  • Responsiveness to existing neighborhood patterns
  • Pedestrian-friendly design
  • De-emphasized parking
  • Sensitivity to changes in scale
  • Provision of usable outdoor space
  • Sustainability features (Multi-Family and Cottage only)

Housing Types Permitted

Below are overviews of the four different types of housing permitted through the RIPP along with some notable development standards for each. See the RIPP Handbook (linked below) for more detailed information.

 

Two-Family Housing

Two-family Housing allows the development of either a duplex (two dwelling units in a single building) or two townhouses (attached one dwelling buildings) on a single development site – though townhouses are ultimately divided into separate lots.

 

Development standards include:

  • Eligible Zones: R-2
  • Minimum Lot Size: 6,000 sq. ft.
  • Each unit is directly accessed from the street
  • Allowance to convert an existing single-family home

  

Small Multi-Family Housing

Small Multi-Family Housing allows up to six dwellings to be developed on a single development site. These typically consist of a single building but could be arranged to include multiple buildings so long as the development criteria are met. Development within the R-2 zone are limited to conversions of existing structures.

 

Development standards include:

  • Eligible Zones: R-2, R-3
  • Minimum Lot Size: 7,000 sq. ft.
  • Buildings are designed to minimize bulk and scale to fit with established neighborhood patterns
  • Access to dwellings is provided through a shared primary entrance
  • Parking is located at the rear of the site and view from the street is obscured

 

Cottage Housing

Cottage Housing consists of a grouping of small dwellings clustered around a common open space area. This type of housing provides a number of benefits including: expanded housing choice that responds to changing needs and lifestyles of Tacoma residents, introduces additional density in a manner that is highly compatible with single-family housing neighborhoods, better utilizes existing infrastructure, and supports nearby community and commercial services.

 

Development standards include:

  • Eligible Zones: All Residential Zones (except HMR-SRD)
  • Minimum Lot Size: 7,000 sq. ft.
  • Maximum number of units is double the base zone’s density (max. 24 units)
  • Allows for a variety of housing types from single to three-unit buildings
  • Common open space size based on the number of units

 

Planned Infill Housing

Planned Infill Housing is a flexible, density-based type of development. It allows a wide range of housing types and arrangements so long as it conforms to the site’s One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan land use designation density range. It is the most flexible of the housing types and promotes creative approaches to housing development while ensuring the project is responsive to specific site conditions and compatible with the surrounding area.

 

Development standards include:

  • Eligible Zones: All Residential Zones (except HMR-SRD)
  • Minimum Lot Size: R-3 - 3,500 sq. ft.; Other Residential Zones – 7,000 sq. ft.
  • Determining the maximum number of units uses a weighted calculation that encourages more affordable housing types such as attached units and ADUs
  • Allows for a variety of housing types including single unit detached, duplex, townhouses, small multifamily, and ADUs
  • Buildings are oriented to the street
  • Parking is located at the rear of the site and view from the street is obscured

Available Infill Housing Spaces by Council District


Map of Council Districts

 

Project Resources

Active Applications

Application Number: LU22-0160

Applicant: RaShelle Davis

Address: 2124 N 27th St.

Council District: 2

Infill Housing Type: Planned Infill

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Planned Infill Housing development consisting of a new single detached unit on a lot with one existing single-family detached dwelling.

More information is available here.

Status: Public Notice, Pending Decision

 

Application Number: LU22-0169

Applicant: Ralph Cook

Address: 8616 S. Fawcett Ave.

Council District: 5

Infill Housing Type: Two Family

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Two Family Housing development consisting of a new two-family dwelling on a lot with one existing accessory garage structure.

More information is available here.

Status: Public Notice, Pending Decision

 

Application Number: LU22-0081

Applicant: David White, IHB Architects

Address: 4014 S. Pacific Ave.

Council District: 4

Infill Housing Type: Planned Infill

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Planned Infill Housing development consisting of a ten (10) unit multi-family dwelling on a lot with an existing single-family detached dwelling.

More information is available here.

Status: Pending

 

Application Number: LU22-0115

Applicant: Gary Meath

Address: 6444 S Verde St.

Council District: 5

Infill Housing Type: Planned Infill

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Planned Infill Housing development consisting of two new two-family dwellings on a vacant lot.

More information is available here.

Status: Pending

 

Application Number: LU22-0130

Applicant: Frank Marescalco

Address: 6874 E. Roosevelt Ave.

Council District: 4

Infill Housing Type: Planned Infill

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Planned Infill Housing development consisting of four two-family dwellings (8 units total) on an undeveloped lot.

More information is available here.

Status: Pending

 

Questions or comments regarding active applications may be sent to planning@cityoftacoma.org.

Past Applications

Application Number: LU22-0021

Applicant: MEACHAM DEVELOPMENT LLC

Address: 1838 E Morton St

Council District: 4

Infill Housing Type: Two Family

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Two-Family Housing development consisting of two townhouse dwellings on a vacant lot.

More information is available here.

Status: Approved

 

Application Number: LU22-0022

Applicant: JILL SOUSA, ARCHITECT

Address: 3612 S. Mason Ave

Council District: 3

Infill Housing Type: Planned Infill

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Planned Infill Housing development consisting of a four (4) unit multi-family dwelling on a lot with an existing single-family dwelling.

More information is available here.

Status: Approved

 

Application Number: LU22-0073

Applicant: CJK Homes

Address: 1301 & 1305 E. 66th St.

Council District: 4

Infill Housing Type: Two Family

Proposal: Residential Infill Conditional Use Permit application for a Two-Family Housing development consisting of a two two-family dwellings on two vacant lots.

More information is available here.

Status: Approved

Program Background Information

Residential Infill Pilot Program 2.0 Adopted Process

The Tacoma City Council adopted Ordinance 28695 on October 20, 2020, updating the Infill Pilot Program to:   

 

1. Expand Infill Housing Types:

  • Add Planned Infill Housing category (previously referred to as density-based)
  • Increase the number of each housing type allowed through the program

2. Modify design requirements and other standards:

  •  Allow Cottage Housing in rear yards when an alley is present
  • Increase flexibility for the two-family housing type by removing the requirement to be on a corner lot, and to present the general appearance of a detached single-family dwelling
  • Increase emphasis on qualitative design review of all categories
  • Other changes for improved design outcomes, program clarity and consistency with Building Code
  • Remove parking requirement for projects reviewed by the Infill Pilot Program

3. Streamline the permit process

  • Integrate the Infill Pilot Program review process into the Conditional Use Permit process (rather than requiring both separately)
  • Update handbook to reflect changes and promote quality and performance through improved guidance.

    4. Update handbook to reflect changes and promote quality and performance through improved guidance.

     

    More information on Program adoption

    Infill Pilot Program Handbook 2.0

     

    Staff Contacts

    Carl Metz

    (253) 290-3946

    Email

     

    Larry Harala

    (253) 591-5640

    Email



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