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A. Criteria. Following a public hearing, the city council may, in its sole discretion, designate one or more residential target areas. Each designated target area must meet the following criteria, as determined by the city council:

1. The target area is located within a designated urban center;

2. The target area lacks sufficient available, desirable, and convenient residential housing to meet the needs of the public who would likely live in the urban center if desirable, attractive, and livable places were available; and

3. The provision of additional housing opportunity in the target area will assist in achieving the following purposes:

a. Encourage increased residential opportunities within the target area; or

b. Stimulate the construction of new multi-family housing and the rehabilitation of existing vacant and underutilized buildings for multi-family housing. In designating a residential target area, the city council may also consider other factors, including, but not limited to: whether additional housing in the target area will attract and maintain a significant increase in the number of permanent residents; whether an increased residential population will help alleviate detrimental conditions and social liability in the target area; and whether an increased residential population in the target area will help to achieve the planning goals mandated by the Growth Management Act under RCW 36.70A.020. The city council may, by ordinance, amend or rescind the designation of a residential target area at any time pursuant to the same procedure as set forth in this chapter for original designation.

B. Target Area Standards and Guidelines. For each designated residential target area, the city council shall adopt basic requirements for both new construction and rehabilitation, including the application process and procedures. The city council may also adopt guidelines including the following:

1. Requirements that address demolition of existing structures and site utilization; and

2. Building requirements that may include elements addressing parking, height, density, environmental impact, public benefit features, compatibility with the surrounding property, and such other amenities as will attract and keep permanent residents and will properly enhance the livability of the residential target area. The required amenities shall be relative to the size of the proposed project and the tax benefit to be obtained.

C. Designated Target Area. The proposed boundaries of the “residential target area” are the boundary of the commercial business district (CBD) zone as indicated on the official city zoning map. (Ord. 2814 § 1(Exh. A), 2010)