Density is not unlimited. In our current CB and RB zones the height is limited to 60 or 65 feet, depending on the zone. The length and width of the proposed building times the height will limit the cubic space available for development. The cubic space is a finite space.
The building must have interior corridors, fire exit stairwells, elevator shafts and perhaps a storage room for utilities, which will all be subtracted from the space available which is marketable space.
Using examples for square footage, a 20 by 20 foot space would be a studio, a 20 by 30 foot space would be a one bedroom and a 20 by 40 foot space would be a two bedroom. These equal 400 square feet, 600 square feet and 800 square feet. The number of units is six studios, four one-bedrooms or three two-bedroom units. The total square footage would be 2,400 square feet, even though the number of units is different.
The housing strategy committee reported that 60 percent of our households are one and two persons. Our comprehensive plan has stated that we want growth to occur along transportation corridors. The growth management act of the state says that we must accommodate people.
Putting a cap on density may be a violation of the GMA but certainly cutting supply will cause the cost of housing to go up. This is counter-productive to the goal of affordable housing.
There is no meaningful numeric limitation to housing units. The cubic space is the finite limitation.
La Nita Wacker
Shoreline
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