“We are so thrilled about this,” said Leslie Schofield, St. Luke’s congregation member and liaison to project partner Imagine Housing. “We’re cautiously optimistic because we don’t have a final answer on everything, but we’re hoping and praying that it will go through.”

St. Luke’s and nonprofit Imagine Housing partnered a year ago to develop a plan for providing 50-58 affordable housing units at the church, which is currently zoned for single-family residences. Imagine Housing recently constructed 58 affordable housing units at the south Kirkland park and ride.

City Planner Nicholas Matz received city council approval Monday to proceed with analysis of the site to determine if a comp plan amendment and rezoning of the property for multifamily residences is appropriate. The hope is to finish the review and return to the council for final approval of a CPA and rezoning by June, Matz said.

Schofield said more than 200 Bellevue School District students struggle with homelessness, some living in cars with their families or couch surfing with friends.

“It just breaks my heart, and that’s our future,” she said. “This is really being part of the community and helping the city solve some of the dilemmas that we have with homelessness.”

Imagine Housing operates 485 affordable housing units on the Eastside; the St. Luke’s project would be its third project in Bellevue. Imagine has roughly 3,200 applications for housing on the Eastside wait-listed, said Sibyl Glasby, director of housing development for the nonprofit.

Glasby said plans are to construct up to 58 one- to three-bedroom studio apartment units on a portion of the parking lot behind St. Luke’s, with affordability ranging from 30 percent of the average median income for a one-bedroom unit to 60 percent AMI for a three-bedroom apartment. She added current Imagine Housing units range from $440-$930 per month, compared to Bellevue’s market rate of $1,500.

“(St. Luke’s) would like to be able to reach out to families,” she said, “so we will be able to have a significant number of two-bedroom apartments and some three bedrooms.”

The city’s process for a comp plan amendment and rezoning of the site will drive the timeline for St. Luke’s and Imagine Housing, Glasby said, adding she hopes it will be completed by the end of the year, leaving 2016 open for targeted private and public fundraising. The expectation is to break ground in 2017.

Imagine led its first neighborhood community meeting on March 19, and will hold a second 6:30 p.m. April 30 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church at 3030 Bellevue Way N.E. The meeting will include discussion groups to strategize the design for the apartment complex and more information about the nonprofit and its service programs.