Leavenworth Planning Commission advances manufactured home amendments, rejects height deviation removal

LEAVENWORTH – The Planning Commission moved forward with proposed amendments to manufactured home standards and denied a proposed administrative deviation during its Jan. 8 meeting.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved proposed amendments to the city’s manufactured home standards. The changes aim to eliminate regulatory barriers to producing manufactured homes, which, according to the Housing Action Plan, “offer a pathway toward homeownership due to the lower cost of the structure.” The city has only issued one permit for siting a manufactured home since 2015.

According to Community Development Director Maggie Boles, the most notable proposed amendment was the removal of Section D in 18.36.028 - Manufactured home standards, which required a manufactured home to meet the requirements of a “designated manufactured home.”

“It required a certain size for a manufactured home, and that was probably the number one barrier that the Planning Commission saw as an issue with our current code, because there are a lot of manufacturing options that might be smaller,” said Boles.

Tiny home dwelling standards were also added to the code, which requires tiny homes to be in compliance with residential dwellings standards and designed and permitted in accordance with current International Residential Code (IRC) and Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Additional code included that tiny home parks be regulated by the standards of manufactured home parks.

Conversely, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to deny a proposed code amendment that would remove a 10 percent administrative deviation for height in residential zones.

In 2022, City Council reduced the maximum allowable height in residential zones from 35 feet to 30 feet in response to community concerns. After it was adopted, concerns were raised regarding the city’s administrative deviation process, which allows for 10 percent deviation from development standards, including height. In 2024, the council requested the deviation for height be reviewed, and possibly removed, in residential zones.

The Planning Commission argued that the deviation was a necessary exception for justified extraordinary circumstances, and not granted haphazardly.

“The reason for the ten percent deviation is for when you have an exceptional scenario…You have to show that you have a reason,” said Planning Commissioner Alison Miller.

The Planning Commission’s recommendations will be sent to City Council for consideration and further action.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media