There are dozens of bills introduced so far this session that are proposing solutions to the housing crises. Although the bills focused on housing types tend to get all the media attention, a significant number of bills are attempting to alter the way housing development is approved and processed by local governments. The following is not an exhaustive list – just the ones scheduled for hearings this week.

Permit streamlining

HB 1296, sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson (D–Edmonds) and SB 5290, sponsored by Sen. Mark Mullet (D–Issaquah) are companion bills requested by Governor Inslee. Section one of the proposal would bar site plan review of interior alterations under certain conditions, including that the project does not add bedrooms. The rest of the bill is focused on a new grant program to local governments to streamline their permitting process, as well as creating a task force.

SB 5412, provided by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D–Shoreline), takes another approach. The bill focuses on two areas intended to reduce permitting workloads—design and environmental review. The bill requires that:

• Design review must be objective and logically integrated with consolidated project permit review process. Exempts heritage register structures from design review. May not include more than one public meeting or have the effect of discouraging housing through unreasonable cost, delay, or uncertainty.
• Provides categorically exemptions for housing if consistent with comprehensive plan.

Parking requirements

Although the Legislature addressed parking requirements near transit just two years ago, HB 1351 sponsored by Rep. Julia Reed (D–Seattle), repeals and amends that work (HB 2343 (RCW 36.70A.620)). The 2020 law established minimum parking requirements for low-income, senior/supportive, and market rate multifamily housing within .25 mile of transit. The proposed bill strikes all of that and replaces it with the following:

• Prohibits minimum parking requirements for new residential or commercial within:
  • .5 mile from level 1 or 2 transit stops
  • .25 mile from a level 3 transit stop
• Allows exceptions for the above if written findings show by a preponderance of the evidence that the development would have a “substantially” negative impact on existing residential or commercial parking with .5 mile of the project. Unless:
  • The project dedicates at least 20% of the total housing units for 12 years to very low-income, low-income, or moderate-income households, students, the elderly, or persons with disabilities; or
  • The housing project is less than 20 units.
• Prohibits using lack of parking for such developments as a basis for a determination of significance for SEPA.
• Section 2 of the bill provides very detailed definitions of transit levels of service 1-6; yet only uses definitions in the proposed law for 1-3.

Lot splitting

HB 1245, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Barkis (R–Olympia), and SB 5364, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame (D–Greenwood), are companion bills that intend to increase housing through lot splitting—allowing an existing residential lot to be split into two lots. The bill mandates that cities amend their codes and developments regulations to:

• Allow for lot splitting by July 1, 2024, or be preempted by the language in the bill.
• Require authorizing lot splitting within residential zones that allow for the development detached single-family homes if the statutory list of conditions are met, including that the resulting lots are at least 1,500 square feet and at least 40% of the size of the original lot.
• Not impose the following requirements on the split lots:
  • more than one off-street parking space per lot;
  • more than 20 feet of frontage width per lot;
  • easement widths of more than four feet for access to rear lots;
  • permitting requirements, design standards, or impacts fees on construction that are greater than those imposed on new residential construction generally within the same zone; or
  • dedications of rights-of-way or for the construction of off-site improvements.

These seem very prescriptive for state law. Please let Carl or Shannon know how these would impact your city, and whether the lot splitting concept with less prescription would receive your city’s support.

Dates to remember

HB 1245 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Housing Committee on Thursday, January 26 at 8 am.

HB 1296 and HB 1351 are scheduled for public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Wednesday, January 25 at 8:00 am and are scheduled for a vote in the same committee on Friday, January 27 at 10:30 am.

SB 5412 and SB 5364 are scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee on Thursday, January 26 at 10:30 am.

SB 5920 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee on Tuesday, January 24 at 8 am.