Today, multi-family, residential and single-family homes embrace the flat, vacant, 2.5-acre parcel at 733 8th St. NE, where owner Balvir Singh hopes to build an apartment complex called Stone Creek.

But as of today, the property is split between the 7,098 square feet of one zoning designation, and the 13,992 square feet of another. If Singh can bring the less dense portion to match the zoning of the greater portion, he could add two more apartments to the anticipated complex than city rules now allow.

His hopes for making that happen rest on the willingness of the Auburn City Council to say yes at its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at Auburn City Hall.

Singh submitted his application to the city on July 11, 2023.

According to a city staff analysis, the rezoning is necessary because of a substantial change in circumstances since the implementation of the current zoning, which designated more than two-thirds of the parcel at the higher density. According to staff, the change would realize the intent of the city’s comprehensive plan land use designation for multiple-family housing.

“Auburn’s housing stock is older than average, and much of its rental housing stock is in fair or poor condition,” staff wrote, noting that the second volume of the housing element of the city’s comprehensive plan states that the rezone would bear a substantial relationship to the public health, safety and welfare.

According to what city planners told officials at the council’s work session on Aug. 26, the rezoning would not have an adverse impact on the surrounding area.

The city’s planning commission held an open record public hearing on July 17, and on Aug. 1, 2024, whereupon the hearing examiner later issued a written recommendation to the council for approval.