To understand the controversy over “air condos” – dense developments of single-family homes on community-owned land – it’s useful to think of them as condominiums, which is technically what they are. But because they feature detached single-family homes, folks tend to think of them as traditional neighborhoods. They’re not.

They’re built on land where apartment or traditional condo complexes are allowed, so they’re not subject to the same rules as traditional neighborhoods. Requirements for open space and aesthetic treatments are lower. And like an apartment complex, their streets aren’t really streets, they’re shared driveways.

But their single-family homes make them seem like traditional neighborhoods, and leaders of cities that may eventually annex them want them to have traditional neighborhood amenities and design standards that conform closely to city codes. That, developers say, would make them too costly. Big, multi-unit apartment or condo buildings likely would go up instead.

Fire safety is another issue. Fire departments have argued that driveways are often too narrow because residents and guests use them for parking, and that some houses are so close together they compromise access to upper-story windows.

Fortunately, fire officials appear close to signing off on changes that will assure access for firefighters. Improvements to landscaping, parking and open space are also included in changes the Snohomish County Council is expected to vote on this week.

Those updates will mean better projects moving forward. We urge the council to adopt the changes promptly, and not delay their implementation, which would allow new developments into the pipeline under the old rules. These needed improvements mustn’t wait.

This type of housing is, on balance, good for our rapidly growing county. Population growth equal to three new Everetts is expected in the next 20 years, and the state Growth Management Act directs most of it into existing urban areas. Denser neighborhoods are and will continue to be a fact of life, and these kinds of cost-saving developments make home ownership possible for more people.

We applaud County Council Chairman Dave Gossett for facilitating the effort toward constructive changes in the rules for “air condos.” Cities aren’t satisfied with the results, but their concerns have yielded significant improvements. Their best strategy now, if they want more control over future development within their urban growth areas, is to move aggressively toward annexations, as Lake Stevens and Lynnwood are doing.

The cities and county also should engage in a serious process to identify and develop future urban design standards.

For now, we need more options for affordable home ownership (an increasingly elusive concept), not fewer. Improving the standards for “air condos,” without pricing them out of existence, is a positive step.