On July 23, the Auburn City Council began discussions related to its half-street improvement code update. This code sets the criteria for when a development will be required to construct street frontage improvements along the parcel(s) involved in the development.

Changes to Snohomish County Engineering, Design and Development Standards (EDDS) will go into effect Monday, August 6. Several positive changes and clarifications were made to the original proposal.

After gathering public opinion for over six months, including two public hearings on April 9 and May 14, the Tukwila City Council voted on July 2, 2018 to adopt an ordinance supporting the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in residential zones.

The city of Monroe is in the middle of a year-long rewrite of its unified development code.

The updated ordinance will apply when development is on property that is identified as a seismic or landslide hazard area, along with site-specific geotechnical reports.

The 2018 legislature adopted a slew of new requirements that apply to condominiums, subdivisions, and other planned communities. JMMK Law has provided a summary of areas of interest to MBAKS members regarding these requirements.

The Seattle City Council has approved an ordinance making significant amendments to parking requirements, the definition of “frequent transit service,” and off-street parking, to name a few. The controversial legislation passed 7-1, with Councilmember Lisa Herbold voting no.

On March 27, 2018, legislation was signed into law that will result in significant changes to the law governing Common Interest Communities (CICs) and paperwork requirements for homebuilders. The new law takes effect July 1. It is important that members review the documents that will be used after July 1, 2018.

The Seattle City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee (PLUZ) received a briefing from staff on the proposed tree protection ordinance. The working draft makes several amendments, but many gaps remain.

Following the state Department of Ecology’s recent update to its habitat scoring system guidance, Snohomish County will immediately begin processing applications using the new scoring system.

Amid a severe housing shortage where supply is rapidly outpacing demand, it does not make sense to remove what could amount to 4,000 residential dwelling units from current land supply.

After several meetings with King County staff where your association and other stakeholders expressed concerns related to King County’s proposed Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion Ordinance, the county has agreed to hold off on further implementation.

Your association has been following and reporting on the progress of King County Executive Dow Constantine’s Land Conservation Initiative (LCI) working group, which issued its final report and recommendations earlier this year.

The State Department of Ecology has released to jurisdictions updated and improved guidance related to wetland scoring systems. The changes may result in dramatically improved buffer requirements.

After months of engaging with King County staff and elected officials on the problematic C&D waste diversion ordinance, the county has put it on hold.

The Washington State Department of Commerce is scheduled to release its first updated guidance related to buildable lands reports December 1 of this year. Draft guidance may be available for review by stakeholders as early as August.

Recently, the Growth Management Policy Board discussed how the region should plan for current and future housing needs in VISION 2050. A presentation on current housing policies and data kicked off the board’s discussion.

With the 2018 state legislative session now adjourned, you can read our final legislative update for the fate of proposed bills, likely initiatives to come forward this year, and, finally, a look ahead to next year.

The city of Mill Creek has adopted an ordinance allowing for the administrative approval of final plats. The measure is already in effect.

At the end of April. Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) rolled out its new online project application, approval, and tracking system—a software program called Accela (a play on the word accelerate).

On July 10, 2018, the Sammamish City Council voted to amend their new Level of Service (LOS) model and not lift the development moratorium, set to expire on July 17.

The city of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods' new Early Community Outreach Design Review guidelines take effect July 1, 2018 and apply to projects going through streamlined, administrative, or full design review.

Your association recently met with the Mayor of Renton, City Administrator, and Director of Community and Economic Development to discuss the recently adopted moratorium on townhome development in the Commercial Arterial (CA) zone.

On Monday, June 4, the Renton City Council voted to impose an emergency moratorium on townhome development in the Commercial Arterial (CA) zone. The CA zone currently allows for a variety of retail sales, services, and other commercial activities, including residential uses through mixed-use building and townhome development.

On Monday, April 16, the King County Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2017-0436, allowing for administrative approval of final plats. This measure will bring greater predictability and efficiency to the permit process by reducing unnecessary delays at final plat approval.

As city of Seattle staff finalize their evaluation of the need and effect to assess transportation and park and recreation impact fees, the city and the Seattle School District signed an interlocal agreement to also move forward with a program to implement school impact fees.

The Riverview School District and the cities of Duvall and Carnation have signed an interlocal agreement to move forward with the process to raise school impact fees.

This week, Lake Stevens Council adopted staff proposed park and traffic impact fee increases in follow up to a council discussion on June 26. The changes were presented as a necessity due to increased traffic and need for public open space.

This week, city of Lake Stevens staff presented councilmembers with a summary of current city traffic and park impact fees, as compared to other jurisdictions within the region.

In March, Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien and the Sustainability and Transportation Committee requested a study on impact fees to fund improvements to roads, parks, and schools.

The North Bend City Council has adopted an increase in “Capital Facilities Charges” (CFC) stormwater fees, from $870 to $2,526 per “Equivalent Service Unit” (ESU) with an annual increase or decrease on January 1 of each year.

On Monday, June 4, Alderwood Water & Wastewater District (AWWD) Commissioners adopted staff-proposed flat rate increases. Your association worked with staff to amend the previously proposed, significantly higher 1” fee.

On Tuesday June 5, the Kent City Council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance to cap the collection of school fees at $8,229 for single family and $8,386 for multifamily.

At a recent Alderwood Water & Wastewater District (AWWD) Board of Commissioner’s meeting, staff recommended adoption of a flat 1” rate for all residential connections of $2,892, a savings of $4,339 per connection.

The Snohomish County Council has introduced proposed ordinance 18-036, a first-of-its-kind measure that would vest school impact fees for five years from time of complete application. This is your association’s top Snohomish County legislative priority for 2018.

Youthworks is a collaboration between Workforce Snohomish, Snohomish STEM, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, Everett Community College, Cocoon House, and WorkSource. Businesses can post job openings immediately.