Published July 2001

Multifamily-housing ban puts 4 projects on hold

By Janice Podsada
Herald Writer

A Lynnwood housing project that would provide apartments for 130 seniors remains in limbo after city officials reaffirmed their decision to continue the multifamily housing ban.

The Lynnwood City Council voted 4-to-3 at the end of May to keep the moratorium in place.

In April, the council approved a six-month emergency moratorium blocking new permits for apartments and condominiums.

Supporters say the six-month hiatus will give them time to evaluate the impact on the city of multiple-family dwellings — apartments, condominiums and other housing projects.

But the ban puts on hold four housing projects that were in the pipeline, including a 130-unit senior housing project.

Council members who favor exempting the four projects from the ban have not gathered enough council support to approve an amendment.

Arthur Martin, Executive Director of the Senior Housing Assistance Group, one of the state’s largest nonprofit providers of senior housing, said the ban is sending a negative message to senior citizens.

The group was within a week of putting in an application for the 130-unit project “when the city dropped the moratorium on us,” Martin said.

The emergency moratorium was passed without public input, a legal procedure. But an emergency moratorium must receive a public hearing within 60 days. On May 14, the council took comments from the public regarding the multifamily housing ban.

After the hearing, council members voted on whether to allow the four projects to be grandfathered in. The council deadlocked 3-to-3. Council member Ned Daniels was absent.

The city attorney incorrectly advised Mayor Tina Roberts-Martinez that she must cast the tiebreaker. The mayor voted for the amended ordinance.

But the next day, the mayor’s vote was ruled ineligible. A closer reading of state law found that mayors are not eligible to cast a tie-breaking vote on an ordinance.

The moratorium, as it stands, will stay in effect until Oct. 9.

Back to the top/July 2001 Main Menu