Council Roundup Considering code change to facilitate conversion of commercial buildings to multifamily housing
The Bellevue City Council is taking proactive steps to amend land use codes to facilitate the conversion of commercial and mixed-use buildings into multifamily housing, in alignment with Washington's House Bill 1042, which aims to address the state's housing shortage. This code amendment, alongside a separate initiative to streamline design reviews as per House Bill 1293, reflects the city's commitment to enhancing housing availability and accommodating higher-density residential projects. The council's decisions will include public engagement phases to gather community input on these critical changes. Concurrently, the Cascade Water Alliance provided an update on its budget and proposed rate changes for Bellevue, indicating a 0. 58% decrease in 2025 water costs, followed by a 2.
36% increase in 2026. The overall residential utility bill for Bellevue is expected to be $222. 83 per month in 2024, with water services making up a significant portion of this total. The council has urged Cascade to explore all avenues to ensure utility rates remain affordable for residents. These developments are part of broader efforts to enhance urban living conditions and address the pressing housing and utility challenges faced by the community.
For further details, residents can access the meeting materials and video replays online.