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.

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.

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.

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.

Single family permits in the Seattle metro area were down 14% and multifamily permits down 6% through the end of May, compared to the same period last year.