Members Baldwin Day, Martinez Propose New Missing Middle Housing Overlay

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Today, Assembly Members Erin Baldwin Day & George Martinez released an ordinance designed to expand housing options in Anchorage and implement the land use goals outlined in the 2020 Comprehensive Plan and 2040 Land Use Plan through a new zoning overlay for Missing Middle Housing.

The proposed overlay would allow development of "missing middle" housing types - including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, and townhomes - in targeted areas along key transportation corridors. A zoning overlay allows property owners in a designated area to opt-in to standards that deviate from what their zone typically allows without changing the standards for all other properties in the zone. The legislation is intended to empower property owners to maximize the use of existing land, improve affordability through increased housing supply, and support walkable neighborhoods served by public infrastructure.

"Anchorage must have more realistic housing options for working families, young professionals, elders, and longtime residents who want to age in place," said Assembly Member Martinez, who represents District 5, East Anchorage and chairs the Assembly Community & Economic Development Committee. "The Missing Middle Housing proposal makes good on the promises made in the Anchorage 2040 Land Use Plan and activates areas that have already been identified as ripe for targeted housing investment."

Adopted in 2017 as an update to the Anchorage Bowl Comprehensive Plan (2001), the Anchorage 2040 Land Use Plan calls for concentrating future growth along major corridors where residents can more easily access jobs, services, and transportation options. Informed by months of community input, the Assembly Housing Action Plan (2023) calls for the removal of barriers to infill and new construction. The LaFrance Administration has set a goal to build 10,000 homes in 10 years to resolve the housing shortage where rising costs and limited supply have made it increasingly difficult for residents to find housing that meets their needs.

The Missing Middle Housing proposal advances those goals by aligning zoning regulations with the city's adopted planning framework and encouraging incremental housing density in areas already served by roads, utilities, transit, and other amenities. The proposal also reflects the Assembly's adopted economic development framework (AR 2025-159) by supporting more efficient use of existing public investment, proactive action to address housing needs, and broader access to housing opportunity.

"Over more than two years of public engagement, I've heard neighbors agree that Anchorage's future depends on our ability to grow our housing supply efficiently and responsibly," Assembly Member Baldwin Day said. "This legislation creates opportunities for more of our neighbors to find stability in homes that fit their needs while making smarter use of infrastructure and planning investments the Municipality has already made through years of public input."

The Missing Middle Housing proposal refines the 2025 Transit Supportive Development Overlay (TSDO) proposal, which received public comment and was recommended for approval with amendments by the Planning & Zoning Commission last year. Key elements of the new proposal include:

• Incentivized development: the overlay map aligns with existing tax incentives for multifamily housing development and rehabilitation of deteriorating buildings;
• Flexible lot size and coverage standards: the dimensional standards refer to existing subdivision standards to ensure lot size and coverage are compatible with existing utilities and infrastructure;
• Neighborhood-scale height limits: 30ft in R-1 and 40ft for all other zones unless the underlying zone allows for taller buildings, so building height scales with existing neighborhood standards.

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Contact:

Erin Baldwin Day, Assembly Member

District 4, Midtown Anchorage

[email protected]

George Martinez, Assembly Member

District 5, East Anchorage

[email protected]​

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