Accessory Dwelling Units Public Comment from Citizens for a Better FlatheadCITIZEN'S FOR A
Citizens for a Better Flathead :. `
` E3ETTER FLATH EAD
7-19-2021
To: The Kalispell City Council
From: Citizens for a Better Flathead
Re: Discussion of Accessory Dwelling Units
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment. In general we want to offer support of the
consideration of adding to some districts the option for accessory dwelling units with the
following conditions:
• Accessory dwellings should be considered a tool to encourage more affordable work-
force housing within the city where close access to jobs and transportation alternatives
help to reduce the cost to renters. For this reason, we would urge the city to include a
policy that would prevent these accessory dwelling units or the main house on the lot
from being rented as short-term rentals.
• We encourage you to define accessory dwellings for these proposed districts as
housing that is rented for more than thirty days. We encourage you also, to define
residential uses as more than thirty days.
• Existing homes provide some of the city's more affordable work -force housing and
they should be retained as long-term rentals or for home ownership. But allowing
both the existing home and an accessory dwelling to be used for short term rental, often
turns these properties into investment properties for short-term investment gain from
higher rents for STRs. When this happens the city loses the potential work -force
affordable housing of an existing residential home and that of the accessory dwelling.
• This summer has demonstrated how the lack of affordable housing is a driving force in
labor shortages in the Flathead.
Your staff report for this agenda item list the following benefits of approving the accessory
dwelling unit proposal before you:
• Creates additional housing options for the city.
• Creates a secondary rental income for property owners.
• Increases the occupancy of a given plot of land.
• Creates more communal living, while still providing autonomy and privacy for both homes.
• People who may have once needed a large home—e.g. parents whose children have moved
out —can move into the ADU and rent out the main home.
It is important to recognize that this list of benefits does not include long-term workforce
housing. We encourage you to make the changes we have suggested above to secure more
affordable work -force housing. Don't just create housing options, create affordable workforce
housing.
We look forward to following your development of this policy and to providing additional
comment as you proceed.
Sincerely, Mayre Flowers on behalf of CBF