SB 5729 is a familiar proposal that continues to surface in the Legislature. Although it purports to encourage construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process, what it does is remove oversight and feedback loops at the most logical and least costly step in the process – the permit counter.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Chris Gildon (R–Puyallup), would do the following:

• Deems a building permit complete if prepared, stamped, and signed by a professional engineer or architect under specified conditions. There are multiple pieces in an application submittal and the purview of the engineer or architect is generally over one piece—not every element of the submittal. This bill assumes that certification of the survey map, which is appropriate, would also approve the rest of the submittal – application, project narrative, title report, affidavit, etc.
• Deems a project permit application approved following six reviews or requests for additional information by the local government unless clear violation of substantive and procedural requirements is demonstrated. City planning departments report that it is a rare application that is complete upon submittal – and many that continue to resubmit without addressing the deficiencies. Passing the application back and forth six times over the counter won’t change that. These projects will get denied.
• Arbitrarily excludes the following project permits from state project review laws in GMA planning jurisdictions:
  • Expansion or remodeling of existing buildings, structures, or development, provided the alterations do not modify the existing site layout, are not located in a critical area, or in cases where two or more duplexes will be built on the same lot;
  • The project involves no exterior work adding to the building footprint;
  • the door or window adjustments or replacements are allowed with no site plan needed; and
  •  total additions and alterations and detached accessory structures are less than 2000 square feet in area without new vehicular access.

For the projects building two duplexes, detached ADUs or additions less than 2000 square feet, where does the oversight occur – during the construction phase? That’s a costly time to make changes.

Date to remember

SB 5729 will be heard in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 18 at 10:30 am and is scheduled for vote in the same committee on Friday, March 21 at 10:30 am.