BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Bellingham City Council addressed a pair of items pertaining to affordable housing Monday, July 27.

Jace Cotton proposed an interim ordinance expanding permittance of Movable Dwelling Units (MDUs) to the Committee of the Whole.

MDUs like RVs and tiny homes on wheels are currently legal for residents within the city, but are restricted to manufactured home communities. The ordinance proposes that MDUs be allowed in all residential zones to increase affordable housing options.

Council member Cotton highlighted in his presentation that MDUs serve both as affordable homes for residents and as a cost-effective urban infill solution.

City council members and the Planning and Community Development Department raised questions surrounding code regulations, inspections and fire safety.

Several of the main concerns of the proposed ordinance were: dangers around modifications made by residents, unit placement in areas visible by the immediate community, wiring issues in older models sparking fires and workload for staff members completing the project.

The council will return to the Committee of the Whole at a later meeting.

Rental price-fixing initiative gets city council approval for ballot

The other item addressed by the committee was the community initiative prohibiting algorithmic price fixing in the rental market.

The council opted to defer the initiative to the voters on the November ballot. Bellingham is still seeking to appoint pro and con statement writers for the three local initiatives appearing in front of the city’s voters later this year.