The townhouse design standards and amendments will make it very difficult to build new townhomes in the city without lot assemblage. Requirements were added for outdoor space, landscaping, solid waste collection, and site configuration.

Barring any changes by the legislature, the new codes take effect July 1, 2020. Please note, BIAW has begun scheduling classes covering significant changes to the 2018 codes. Space is limited and members are encouraged to register today

This update is extensive and will likely affect all properties in the city. The current code, originally adopted in 1996, has been modified annually and become a patchwork that is hard to follow, with repetition and obsolete references.

Burien no longer requires owner occupancy of the primary residence when leasing or owning an ADU, making ADU leasing or ownership more flexible.

On October 2, 2018, we took to social media to discuss the benefits of more flexible accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules and various cottage housing ordinances throughout our two-county region.

The issue now moves to City Council for a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at City Council. Meetings with city councilmembers and MBAKS have already begun.

The amendment changed the process by which reasonable use applications are reviewed and limited the size of homes to 1,500 square feet when constrained by critical areas. The council did so without a hearing at Planning Commission or before the Houghton Community Council.

Up for Growth released its report, Housing Underproduction in Washington State, which details our state’s 225,000-home shortage and highlights policies needed to achieve higher density and more housing choices.

The CPPs are an integral part of the 2023 Comprehensive Plan update and are crucial in determining whether the next comprehensive plan update makes available more land or not.

MBAKS staff testified on issues pertaining to the land use element by applauding the inclusion of multifamily uses in the city’s waterfront residential and expressing concerns on the potential impacts of medium density residential areas switching from “gross” to “net” density.

MBAKS Executive Director Kat Sims authored an editorial for the Puget Sound Business Journal stressing the need for more housing in our growing region.

The scope of work includes the Rethink Housing Plan to serve as a policy framework and workplan to encourage affordable and market rate housing, a TOD Housing Action Plan, and a Housing Displacement Strategy.

The Energize Eastside project is Puget Sound Energy’s plan to upgrade 16 miles of transmission line from Renton to Redmond. This backbone of the electric grid hasn’t had a major upgrade since the 1960s.

The Street Use division of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) have made the water service application process easier.

The most recent update to its fee schedule was in 2008. There should be a draft fee document available for stakeholder review in February, with final adoption slated for July. Applications submitted up to that date will vest to existing fees.

The rate increase under consideration is intended to result in a revenue-neutral fee adjustment across all projected land use development classifications and locations.

The total permit fees paid for some projects will go down depending on how these factors, along with process improvements, impact staff time needed to complete the work.

In the coming semester, students in the program will be learning important building skills and constructing a cottage for a low-income family in need of a home. Skilled trades professions are vitally important and we are happy to be a community stakeholder in this program.