A “Housing Needs Assessment” (HNA) includes a “Land Capacity Analysis” (LCA) as a necessary component. The Land Capacity Analysis is a methodology conducted by counties and cities to determine the amount of vacant, partially used, and under-utilized lands, as well as the redevelopment potential of built properties, to accommodate growth. This process identifies the potential for land within a community’s boundaries to accommodate anticipated housing growth, given its current zoning restrictions. Analysis is typically conducted with Geographic Information System (GIS) and should consider capacity by housing type: single family, 2-3-4-plex, and multifamily units. Counties and cities use a LCA to determine if the existing Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) can accommodate twenty years of urban growth.
A “Housing Needs Assessment” (HNA) is a study to identify future housing needs to serve all economic segments of the community. Cities and counties planning under Washington State’s Growth Management Act (GMA) must conduct the assessment as part of their comprehensive plan updates. Pacific County municipalities (Long Beach, Ilwaco, South Bend, and Raymond) and the county itself completed their most recent Comprehensive Plan updates prior to the covid-19 pandemic and are unreflective of the pandemic-linked surge in home prices and rents. Pressures on affordable housing availability in Pacific County are compounded by its historical popularity as an ocean-side tourist destination with significant demand for vacation and seasonal homes. The pandemic further compounded the shortage of affordable housing as remote workers from across the country were attracted by relatively inexpensive housing compared to larger metropolitan areas.