HB 1690, sponsored by Rep. Amy Walen (D–Kirkland), is the companion to SB 5008, which had a hearing in mid-January and is now awaiting a vote on the floor of the Senate.

Generally, short subdivisions remain defined as the division of land into four or fewer lots. However, this bill would allow jurisdictions not planning under the GMA to, by local ordinance, increase the number of lots, tracts, or parcels to nine. Those jurisdictions planning under the GMA would be required to process subdivisions of up to nine lots, tracts, or parcels, through the short subdivision process; and, by ordinance, a city could increase the number to 30 within a UGA.

We support the interest in facilitating residential housing development, but testified on the companion, SB 5008, with concerns about the provisions of this bill that mandate moving from four units to nine as a default minimum. Among other reasons, because some cities have concern about the lack of public hearings for short subdivisions and don’t have other robust public engagement mechanisms.

Does this concern your city? Please reach out to Carl or Shannon with any comments. Thank you to those who submitted comments on the Senate companion.

Dates to remember

HB 1690 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Local Government Committee at 10 am on Tuesday, February 12.