At a July 31 meeting, city staff presented potential changes and recommendations. The proposal includes changes to density per acre, lot size and width, impervious surface area, and increasing setbacks.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has issued an executive order directing city departments to help homeowner efforts to add Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to their properties by lowering red tape and expenses.

The Seattle City Council voted July 1 to unanimously approve the long-awaited accessory dwelling unit (ADU) reform legislation. We’ve heard from many members that they have clients interested in building an ADU but have been awaiting the outcome of this legislation.

This is a city-initiated code amendment to update Chapter 14.56 LSMC Streets and Sidewalks. This chapter addresses right-of-way issues, including how the city’s street network should be built out, what types of developments are required to build sidewalks and other frontage improvements, and how deviations from the approved EDDS are granted.

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.

Two new positive aspects of the legislation include a blanket change of nonconforming uses to conforming and allowing setback averaging for a new home where there is an existing, neighboring home with a different setback than required under current code.

The ordinance will increase buffers by an estimated 14% and result in 370 additional acres of encumbered land.

By 2050, the four-county region of King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap is expected to add 1.8 million people, reaching a total population of 5.8 million. An anticipated 1.2 million more jobs are forecast by 2050.

Snohomish County Tomorrow received an update recently on Snohomish County’s Buildable Lands Report—which is scheduled for completion and adoption by June 2021. The Report is a key component of the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update.

Over the next 20 years, it is estimated that more than $4 billion is needed to maintain I-5 roadways, bridges, and pavement. Urban and rural communities (and economies) served by this section of I-5 include more than four million residents, or 60% of the state’s population.

This proposal includes housing policies designed to increase the number of residential and mixed-use buildings in the areas near commercial centers and transit corridors and encourage new development in medium-density residential neighborhoods.

The action marks a major milestone in a years-long effort to build a new substation and upgrade existing transmission lines to what PSE considers the “backbone” of its Eastside electric grid.

Going forward, the area will be known as the Cascade Industrial Center. The approval allows access to federal grants for investments and infrastructure in the area.

This memo addresses barriers to housing production and affordability in Washington and provides 46 tools aimed at assisting local governments in improving housing affordability.

SDCI Director Nathan Torgelson, recently made a presentation in front of the Seattle City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee to update Council Members on the existing permit backlog and what the department is doing to address it.

Once the draft is finalized, it will be transmitted to the King County Council in October for review and possible adoption later this year as part of the King County Mid-Biennial Budget review. The adopted fees will apply to development in unincorporated King County, effective Jan. 1, 2020. Each jurisdiction within the County will need to take action to implement the updated fee.

The proposed increase is based upon the city’s aggressive 2019–2024 Park Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which proposes over $8 million in projects and acquisitions. Staff presented commissioners four options.

This update will include fire and traffic impact fees, as well as bike and pedestrian, police, and general government building mitigation fees. Cumulatively, this proposal will result in a $3,305.87 increase for single family and $1,914.77 for multifamily.

The study resulted in a maximum rate of $6,663 as allowed by law. This is substantially higher than rates found in nearby cities. As a result, staff is proposing a 44% reduction to the maximum allowable rate.

Thanks to the State Legislature providing funding for the Regional Apprenticeships Pathways (RAP) program, students have been enrolled who will one day enter the construction trades. Now, the program needs your help in the form of donated equipment.