HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2023-01-09 Item 4 - Handout Distributed at Meeting - Association of WA Cities Housing Solutions Group Releases Proposal1/10/23, 12:43 PM AWC Housing Solutions Group releases proposal
Advocacy
Published on Dec 09, 2022
AWC Housing Solutions Group releases
proposal
Contact: Car
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In previous articles, we have updated you on the fon a.tion and progress of
the AWC Housing Solutions Group (HSG). To recap, the group of city
officials spent August through November in a facilitated process, meeting
several times together and a few times with external partners, including key
legislators and Governor Inslee. The HSG's task was to develop a proactive
suite of legislative proposals to address the housing affordability and supply
challenges facing all corners of the state.
To do so, the HSG narrowed the scope to areas where cities could directly
impact change. The group recognized the need for a multifaceted approach
that bolsters the capacity of cities to accommodate new housing
construction, allow it to be built with more certainty and speed, and
acknowledged the need for significantly more resources if our state is to
meet the identified need for housing that is affordable to our neighbors with
lower incomes.
The proposal includes elements that may cause some consternation among
some cities, especially the proposed zoning minimums. The HSG carefully
calibrated the need to preserve local decision-making while proposing
minimum standards to maximize the benefit of public investments in transit
and community amenities. It is important to note that the proposal below is a
package with interdependent components. We can make progress on our
housing crisis only by pursuing a holistic approach that truly results in
affordable housing.
Maximize density and
affordability around regional
transit assets
■ No maximum density allowed
within % mile walking
distance of rapid transit (rail -
based and bus rapid transit),
if 20% of units are affordable
at 80% of AMI or below for
fifty years.
■ Cities may set minimum
density and higher
affordability standards.
Regulatory streamlining
■ Exempt all residential
development from
SEPA if the
development intensity
is consistent with what
is planned for in the
comprehensive plan.
• Eliminate external
design review boards
and only allow
administrative review
of design standards.
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1/10/23, 12:43 PM
■ Cities may otherwise
regulate through local
development standards
including height and
envelope limitations.
Maximize utilization of
community amenities or broad
upzone across residential zones
All cities over 20,000 must select a
or b:
a Cities must allow at least
three units per residential lot,
in any configuration, by
permitted use within IA mile
walking distance from
schools and community
parks. ADUs and DADUs
count as a unit each. Cities
may otherwise regulate
through local development
standards. If no rapid transit
exists in a city, city must
allow at least three units per
lot within a IA mile walking
distance of arterials.
Individual lots can be
excluded with a documented
finding of an infrastructure
deficiency.
OR
b. 75% of residential lots in a
city must allow at least three
units per lot, in any
configuration, by permitted
use. Cities may otherwise
AWC Housing Solutions Group releases proposal
External design review
boards include
community volunteer
based advisory
boards.
■ Provide state funding
assistance for
voluntary code audits
and to develop more
online and streamlined
permitting systems.
• Support changes to
the state building code
to facilitate middle
housing (e.g. apply the
residential building
code up to six units).
Funding
Infrastructure investments
to support housing
■ Restore revenues to
the Public Works
Assistance Account to
ensure infrastructure
funding for capacity
increases is available.
■ Continue and enhance
Connecting Housing
and Infrastructure
Program.
Direct funding for housing
• Increase funding for
low-income housing by
at least $1 billion per
year.
• Provide a new .25%
councilmanic local
option REET that can
be used to fund
affordable rentals,
affordable home
ownership, and
infrastructure to
support housing. Allow
cities to convert local
REET taxes to
"progressive tiers"
mirroring the state.
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1/10/23, 12:43 PM
regulate through local
development standards.
AWC Housing Solutions Group releases proposal
• Provide additional
flexibility for use of
lodging taxes for
affordable housing.
• Increase funding for
cities to plan for
housing and density
increases.
With the release of this proposal, AWC staff are sharing it with our partners
and working to develop legislative proposals to advance these ideas. In the
coming weeks we will be developing and sharing advocacy materials that
you can use to talk to your legislators about this comprehensive proposal
that we believe will meaningfully address the housing crisis in the state.
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