The Bellevue City Council on Monday approved the addition St. Luke’s Lutheran Church’s Bellevue Way Northeast property to its 2015 comprehensive plan update, calling for the site to be rezoned to allow for multifamily housing.

The church and nonprofit Imagine Housing partnered more than a year ago to develop plans for a 58-unit affordable housing complex over an existing parking lot behind St. Luke’s, but are prohibited from doing so while the property remains zoned for single-family residences.

Sibyl Glasby, director of housing development for Imagine Housing, said St. Luke’s plans on providing 26 two-bedroom units at $500-$1,000 per month, significantly lower than the average rate of $1,900 per month in the city currently. There will also be 29 one-bedroom and three three-bedroom options.

Of the 58 units, 29 will be affordable to individuals up to 30 percent of the area median income, 15 will be up to 40 percent and 14 at 60 percent.

Judy Buckmaster, executive director of student services for the Bellevue School District and St. Luke’s congregation member, told the council Monday the lack of affordable housing in the city puts a strain on young educators, unable to find living accommodations, as well as students and their families. She reported 223 BSD students struggle with homelessness today.

“These are our people,” Buckmaster said. “These are our kids and families.”

Residents responded again with concerns about traffic and pedestrian impacts along Bellevue Way. Northtowne Neighborhood Association member Paul Brallier said a traffic light on the north end of Bellevue Way would help calm traffic and improve pedestrian access to transit services. The association also reported a problem with speeding on Bellevue Way, citing a traffic study showing a 66-percent spike in violations last year.

“We are fully committed to working with the city and the community to mitigate the impact of traffic,” and keeping pedestrians safe on Bellevue Way, said Glasby.

Glasby told the council many residents of Imagine Housing complexes — sited close to bus routes — end up getting rid of their vehicles, adding many in affordable housing can’t afford a vehicle in the first place.

Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci said she didn’t hear comments opposing affordable housing, just mitigating traffic impacts, which is expected to be addressed through the permitting process.

“I think we’re all trying to work on the same issue together.”