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City of Tukwila
Planning and Community
Development Committee
Hannah Hedrick, Chair
Jovita McConnell
Distribution:
J. McConnell
H. Hedrick
Mayor McLeod
M. Wine
A. Youn
L. Humphrey
AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025 – 5:30 PM
ON-SITE PRESENCE:
TUKWILA CITY HALL
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
6200 SOUTHCENTER BOULEVARD
REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR THE PUBLIC:
1-253-292-9750, ACCESS CODE: 866559860#
Click here to: Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
For Technical Support: 1-206-433-7155
Item Recommended Action Page
1.
BUSINESS AGENDA
a. Resolution authorizing allocation from South King
Housing & Homelessness Partners (SKHHP)
Housing Capital Fund
Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst
b. Lodging Tax Funding Request from the City of
Tukwila for Juneteenth
Brandon Miles, Director of Strategic Initiatives
and Government Relations
c. Ordinance amending regulations for Phased
Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIP)
Neil Tabor, Senior Planner
d. Ordinance amending regulations for Emergency
Shelters, Transitional Housing, Emergency
Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing
(STEP)
Neil Tabor, Senior Planner
a. Forward to 3/17 Regular
Meeting Consent Agenda
b. Forward to 3/17 Regular
Meeting Consent Agenda
c. Forward to 3/10 Regular
Meeting Consent Agenda
d. Forward to 3/24 C.O.W.
Meeting Agenda
Pg.1
Pg. 37
Pg.47
Pg.73
2. MISCELLANEOUS
Next Scheduled Meeting: April 14, 2025
City of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Committee of the Whole
FROM: Claire Goodwin, Executive Manager, SKHHP
Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst
DATE: February 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Resolution authorizing allocation from SKHHP Housing Capital Fund
ISSUE
The proposed resolution authorizes the allocation of $91,832.00 from the City’s existing
contributions to the South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) Housing
Capital Fund to finance affordable housing projects.
SUMMARY
SKHHP was created in 2019 through an interlocal agreement of several cities and King County
to address housing needs in South King County. There are currently 12 member jurisdictions:
Auburn, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Maple Valley, Normandy Park,
Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila, and King County. SKHHP provides a meaningful opportunity to
pool funds together with neighboring cities to collaboratively make an impact on the
subregion’s affordable housing shortage. To date, SKHHP has pooled over $11.2 million to
house our low-income neighbors or rehabilitate deteriorating multifamily buildings. Mayor
McLeod serves as Tukwila’s representative on the SKHHP Executive Board, with
Councilmember Martinez serving as alternate.
Housing Capital Fund
In 2019, RCW 82.14.540 (SHB 1406) became law allowing jurisdictions to enact a local sales
and use tax for the purpose of supporting affordable housing. In 2021, eight of the nine
SKHHP member cities entered into a second interlocal agreement for purposes of pooling
sales tax receipts authorized by RCW 82.14.540 with SKHHP to create the Housing Capital
Fund (Pooling ILA – SHB 1406). In 2024, an additional member city entered into the Pooling
ILA – HB 1590 and a new member city made a contribution from municipal general funds.
In 2023, two of the four SKHHP member cities who are able to collect RCW 82.14.530 (HB
1590) revenues desired to pool a portion of those funds with SKHHP for the 2023 funding
round of the Housing Capital Fund to add to existing SHB 1406 pooled revenue and entered
into an additional interlocal agreement (Pooling ILA – HB 1590).
The Establishing ILA and Pooling ILAs established the SKHHP Housing Capital Fund, set
parameters for the process for the selection of awards involving pooled funds, and
determined the approval process. Pursuant to the ILAs, the SKHHP Executive Board
recommends allocations for funding affordable housing projects to the participating City
Councils. Even though the Council has already contributed funds to the 2024 Housing Capital
Fund funding round, Council approval is needed to authorize the allocation of fun ds to
specific projects. 1
INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
Funding Recommendations
The SKHHP Executive Board adopts annual funding guidelines and priorities for each funding
round. The SKHHP Advisory Board subsequently reviewed applications and provided a
funding recommendation based on adopted priorities to the SKHHP Executive Board. T he
SKHHP Executive Board concurred with the SKHHP Advisory Board’s recommendation and
recommends funding four projects $4,100,000 as described in the 2024 SKHHP Housing
Capital Fund Recommendation memo dated January 23, 2025 (attached).
The SKHHP Executive Board requests approval to use $91,832 of the total $89,289
contributed funds from 2024 and $3,002 of the carry-over from 2023 from the City of Tukwila
for the following recommended projects:
Project
Sponsor and
Project Name
Location # of Units Total
Development
Cost
2024 SKHHP
Contribution
2024 City
Contribution
Mercy Housing
NW – Burien
Family
Housing
Burien 91 $58,048,463 $2,000,000 $0
TWG – Pandion
at Star Lake
Kent 251 $126,720,200 $770,000 $0
Multi-Service
Center – White
River
Apartments
Auburn 24 $975,939 $775,000 $69,097
Habitat for
Humanity –
Burien Miller
Creek
Burien 40 $26,193,686 $555,000 $22,735
As outlined in the attached memo, sales and use tax receipts from Tukwila have already been
contributed to SKHHP’s 2024 Housing Capital Fund, and with this Council approval, $91,832
of those funds may be allocated to the projects recommended by the SKHHP Executive
Board. Detailed descriptions of the projects, funding requests, rationale, and recommended
conditions of funding for projects by the SKHHP Executive Board are included in the attached
memo.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is seeking Council approval of the proposed resolution with possible final action on
March 17, 2025.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Resolution
2
South King Housing and
Homelessness Partners (SKHHP)
Housing Capital Fund
Recommendations
Claire V. Goodwin, SKHHP Executive Manager
3
SKHHP’s Housing Capital Fund
2
Meaningful opportunity to pool funds together with neighboring cities to collaboratively make an
impact on the subregion’s affordable housing shortage.
Funds pooled from eleven member jurisdictions:
Auburn Federal Way Renton
Burien Kent SeaTac
Covington Maple Valley Tukwila
Des Moines Normandy Park
2019: SHB 1406 (RCW 82.14.540) became law allowing jurisdictions to enact a local sales tax
for the purpose of affordable housing; sales tax is a recapture of a portion of existing sales tax
2020: HB 1590 (RCW 82.14.530) became law allowing jurisdictions to impose a 0.1% local sales
and use tax to support affordable housing; limited window to act before County collected revenue
4
3
▪The SKHHP Advisory Board reviewed and made recommendations to the SKHHP Executive
Board to fund four of the six projects.
▪City of Renton to directly support two projects with HB 1590 funds.
▪The SKHHP Executive Board agreed with recommendation and is seeking concurrence from
each jurisdiction.
▪The recommendation totals $4,100,000
▪$1,030,000 from SHB 1406
▪$2,770,000 from HB 1590
▪$300,000 from GF
2 024 Housing Capital Fund
5
Recommended Projects
4
1.Mercy Housing NW – Burien Family Housing: Burien
• 91-unit multifamily rental development adjacent to Mary’s Place emergency shelter
• 30%-60% of area median income (AMI); 34 units set-aside for families exiting homelessness and 18 units set-aside for
households with physical disability. Previously awarded project.
• $2,000,000
2.TWG – Pandion at Star Lake: Kent
• 251-unit multifamily rental development adjacent to the future Kent/Star Lake Link light rail station
• 30%-80% AMI; set-asides for families and families at-risk of homelessness. Previously awarded project.
• $770,000
3.Multi-Service Center – White River Apartments: Auburn
• 24-unit rehabilitation and preservation project
• 3 units up to 30% AMI; 16 units up to 45% AMI; 5 units up to 60% AMI
• $775,000
4.Habitat for Humanity – Burien Miller Creek: Burien
• 40 units for affordable homeownership
• 20 units at an average 50% AMI and 20 units up to 80% AMI. Previously awarded project.
• $555,000
6
Proposed Funding Sources for
Recommended Projects – HB 1590
5
Jurisdiction
1. Mercy
Housing-Burien
Family
2. TWG-Pandion
Total
Contributed in
2024
Carry-Over
from 2023 Unallocated
Covington $ 153,964 $ 59,276 $ 213,657 $ 43 $ 460
Kent $ 1,485,801 $ 572,034 $ 2,061,827 $ 442 $ 4,434
Maple Valley $ 360,235 $ 138,690 $ 500,000 $ - $ 1,075
Total $ 2,000,000 $ 770,000 $ 2,775,484 $ 485 $ 5,969
7
Proposed Funding Sources for
Recommended Projects – SHB 1406
6
Jurisdiction 3. MSC-White
River
4. Habitat-Miller
Creek
Total
Contributed in
2024
Carry-Over
from 2023 Unallocated
Auburn $ 121,507 $ 39,980 $ 135,475 $ 26,819 $ 807
Burien $ 57,595 $ 18,950 $ 64,623 $ 12,304 $ 382
Des Moines $ 29,955 $ 9,856 $ 34,012 $ 5,998 $ 199
Federal Way $ 116,047 $ 38,184 $ 131,715 $ 23,286 $ 770
Kent $ 173,408 $ 57,057 $ 194,889 $ 36,726 $ 1,150
Normandy Park $ 4,930 $ 1,622 $ 5,426 $ 1,158 $ 32
Renton $ 202,461 $ 66,616 $ 228,107 $ 42,313 $ 1,343
Tukwila $ 69,097 $ 22,735 $ 89,289 $ 3,002 $ 459
Total $ 775,000 $ 255,000 $ 883,536 $ 151,606 $ 5,142
8
Proposed Funding Sources for
Recommended Projects – General Funds
7
Jurisdiction 4. Habitat-
Miller Creek
Total
Contributed in
2024
Unallocated
SeaTac $ 300,000 $ 300,000 $ -
Total $ 300,000 $ 300,000 $ -
9
Thank you
Claire V. Goodwin, SKHHP Executive Manager
cvgoodwin@skhhp.org
1
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SKHHP Capital Fund Allocation Page 1 of 3
Version: 02/28/2025
Staff: L. Humphrey
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AUTHORIZING
THE DULY-APPOINTED ADMINISTERING AGENCY
FOR SOUTH KING HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
PARTNERS (SKHHP) TO EXECUTE ALL
DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO
AGREEMENTS FOR THE FUNDING OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, AS
RECOMMENDED BY THE SKHHP EXECUTIVE
BOARD, UTILIZING FUNDS CONTRIBUTED BY THE
CITY OF TUKWILA TO THE SKHHP HOUSING
CAPITAL FUND.
WHEREAS, on February 21, 2019, the City of Tukwila entered into an Interlocal
Agreement to form South King Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) to help
coordinate the efforts of South King County cities to provide affordable housing ; and
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2021, the City of Tukwila entered into an Interlocal
Agreement for the purposes of pooling sales tax receipts with SKHHP to administer funds
through the SKHHP Housing Capital Fund; and
WHEREAS, the SKHHP Executive Board has recommended that the City of Tukwila
participate in the funding of certain affordable housing projects and programs hereinafter
described; and
WHEREAS, the SKHHP Executive Board has developed recommended conditions
to ensure the City’s affordable housing funds are used for their intended purpose and that
projects maintain their affordability over time; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the SKHHP formation Interlocal Agreement, each legislative
body participating in funding a project or program through SKHHP’s Housing Capital Fund
must authorize the application of a specific amount of the City ’s funds contributed to the
SKHHP Housing Capital Fund to a specific project or program; and
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SKHHP Capital Fund Allocation Page 2 of 3
Version: 02/28/2025
Staff: L. Humphrey
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to use $91,832 from funds contributed to the
SKHHP Housing Capital Fund as designated below to finance the projects recommended
by the SKHHP Executive Board;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Pursuant to the Interlocal Agreement, the City Council authorizes the
duly-appointed administering agency of SKHHP to execute all documents and take all
necessary actions to enter into agreements on behalf of the City and to utilize the City’s
SHB 1406 contribution of $91,832 (the sum of the City’s 2024 contribution in the amount
of $89,289 plus $2,543 of carry-over funds from 2023) to fund the rehabilitation of the
Multi-Service Center’s White River Apartments in the amount of $69,097 and to support
the development of Habitat for Humanity’s Burien Miller Creek in the amount of $22,735,
leaving $459 of the City’s contributions unallocated, as described below.
Section 2. The agreements entered into, pursuant to Section 1 of this resolution,
shall include terms and conditions to ensure that the City’s funds are used for their
intended purpose and that the projects maintain affordability over time. In determining
what conditions should be included in the agreements, the duly-appointed administering
agency of SKHHP shall be guided by the recommendations set forth in the SKHHP
Executive Board’s memorandum dated January 23, 2025, a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit A.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect and be in full force immediately upon
passage and signatures.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this _______ day of __________________, 2025.
Jurisdiction 3. MSC-White
River
4. Habitat-Miller
Creek
Total
Contributed
in 2024
Carry-Over
from 2023 Unallocated
Auburn $ 121,507 $ 39,980 $ 135,475 $ 26,819 $ 807
Burien $ 57,595 $ 18,950 $ 64,623 $ 12,304 $ 382
Des Moines $ 29,955 $ 9,856 $ 34,012 $ 5,998 $ 199
Federal Way $ 116,047 $ 38,184 $ 131,715 $ 23,286 $ 770
Kent $ 173,408 $ 57,057 $ 194,889 $ 36,726 $ 1,150
Normandy Park $ 4,930 $ 1,622 $ 5,426 $ 1,158 $ 32
Renton $ 202,461 $ 66,616 $ 228,107 $ 42,313 $ 1,343
Tukwila $ 69,097 $ 22,735 $ 89,289 $ 3,002 $ 459
Total $ 775,000 $ 255,000 $ 883,536 $ 151,606 $ 5,142
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SKHHP Capital Fund Allocation Page 3 of 3
Version: 02/28/2025
Staff: L. Humphrey
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Andy Youn-Barnett, CMC, City Clerk Tosh Sharp, Council President
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Resolution Number:
Office of the City Attorney
Attachment: Exhibit A – SKHHP Executive Board memorandum dated January 23, 2025
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Page 1 of 23
Memorandum
South King Housing and Homelessness Partners
TO: City of Auburn City Council City of Maple Valley City Council
City of Burien City Council City of Normandy Park City Council
City of Covington City Council City of Renton City Council
City of Des Moines City Council City of SeaTac City Council
City of Federal Way City Council City of Tukwila City Council
City of Kent City Council
FROM: SKHHP Executive Board
DATE: January 23, 2025
RE: 2024 SKHHP Housing Capital Fund Recommendation
OVERVIEW
2024 was the third annual funding round of the SKHHP Housing Capital Fund made possible by pooling
resources among SKHHP member jurisdictions. 2024 was the first year every member city contributed pooled
funds towards the Housing Capital Fund and contributions totaled $3,959,020. With the remaining unused
funds from the 2023 funding round, SKHHP made $4,100,000 available in the 2024 funding round. SKHHP
received six applications for funding representing over $9.2 million in requests to develop or preserve 431
units of housing. The SKHHP Executive Board recommends funding four projects totaling $4,100,000 (see Table
1). Of this total, the Executive Board recommends using $1,030,000 of the total $1,035,141 sourced from SHB
1406 revenue contributions for one homeownership and one preservation project; $2,770,000 of the total
$2,775,969 sourced from HB 1590 revenue contributions for two new construction projects; and $300,000 of
the total $300,000 sourced from general funds to be applied to the homeownership project. This
recommendation leaves a balance of $5,141 in SHB 1406 funds and $5,969 in HB 1590 funds in the Housing
Capital Fund that will rollover into the next funding round in 2025 (see Tables 2 and 3). A summary of the
recommended projects, funding rationale, and the conditions for funding are described in this memo. Included
as attachments are the economic summaries of the recommended projects, summary changes of previously
awarded projects that reapplied and are recommended for funding, and standard conditions for funding.
Table 1: Recommended Projects and Recommended Funding Level
Project sponsor
and name
Location # of
units
Project type Amount
Requested
Recommended
Funding – HB
1590
Recommended
Funding – SHB
1406 & GF
Mercy Housing NW –
Burien Family Housing
Burien 91 New Construction
Rental
$2,000,000 $2,000,000 --
TWG – Pandion at Star
Lake
Kent 251 New Construction
Rental
$2,000,000 $770,000 --
Multi-Service Center –
White River Apts.
Auburn 24 Preservation
Rental
$975,939 -- $775,000
Habitat for Humanity –
Burien Miller Creek
Burien 40 New Construction
Homeownership
$1,300,000 -- $300,000-GF
$255,000-SHB
1406
TOTAL -- 406 -- -- $2,770,000 $1,330,000
Exhibit A
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Page 2 of 23
Table 2: Proposed HB 1590 Allocations by Jurisdiction for Recommended Projects
Table 3: Proposed SHB 1406 Allocations by Jurisdiction for Recommended Projects
Table 4: Proposed Unrestricted/General Fund Allocations by Jurisdiction for Recommended Projects
Jurisdiction 3. Habitat-Miller
Creek
Total
Contributed in
2024
Unallocated
SeaTac $ 300,000 $ 300,000 $ -
Total $ 300,000 $ 300,000 $ -
BACKGROUND
The SKHHP Advisory Board met on October 3, 2024 and November 7, 2024 to review each project application
and develop a funding recommendation for the SKHHP Executive Board’s consideration. The SKHHP Executive
Board met on October 18, 2024 and November 15, 2024 to review each project and consider the
recommendations of the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board adopted its recommendation on November 7,
2024 and the Executive Board took final action on November 15, 2024.
Of the six applications received, two are located in Renton and both project applications are eligible to receive
HB 1590 funds. The City of Renton collects HB 1590 funds but does not currently pool those funds with SKHHP.
SKHHP pools HB 1590 funds from three of the four South King County cities that collect it. Because of this, the
City of Renton plans to directly financially support these two projects. These projects include Homestead
Community Land Trust’s Willowcrest II and St. Stephen Housing Association & Way Back Inn’s Steele House.
Jurisdiction
1. Mercy
Housing-Burien
Family
2. TWG-Pandion
Total
Contributed
in 2024
Carry-Over
from 2023 Unallocated
Covington $ 153,964 $ 59,276 $ 213,657 $ 43 $ 460
Kent $ 1,485,801 $ 572,034 $ 2,061,827 $ 442 $ 4,434
Maple Valley $ 360,235 $ 138,690 $ 500,000 $ - $ 1,075
Total $ 2,000,000 $ 770,000 $ 2,775,484 $ 485 $ 5,969
Jurisdiction 3. MSC-White
River
4. Habitat-Miller
Creek
Total
Contributed
in 2024
Carry-Over
from 2023 Unallocated
Auburn $ 121,507 $ 39,980 $ 135,475 $ 26,819 $ 807
Burien $ 57,595 $ 18,950 $ 64,623 $ 12,304 $ 382
Des Moines $ 29,955 $ 9,856 $ 34,012 $ 5,998 $ 199
Federal Way $ 116,047 $ 38,184 $ 131,715 $ 23,286 $ 770
Kent $ 173,408 $ 57,057 $ 194,889 $ 36,726 $ 1,150
Normandy Park $ 4,930 $ 1,622 $ 5,426 $ 1,158 $ 32
Renton $ 202,461 $ 66,616 $ 228,107 $ 42,313 $ 1,343
Tukwila $ 69,097 $ 22,735 $ 89,289 $ 3,002 $ 459
Total $ 775,000 $ 255,000 $ 883,536 $ 151,606 $ 5,142
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Page 3 of 23
These two projects were removed from SKHHP’s competitive list of projects under consideration prior to the
Advisory Board and Executive Board making their funding recommendation.
PROCESS
ATTACHMENTS
1. Economic summaires of recommended projects
2. Summary changes of previously awarded projects that reapplied
3. Standard conditions for funding
Advisory Board
recommendation
(November 7, 2024)
Executive Board finalizes
recommendation
(November 15, 2024)
Member Councils approve
funding recommendation
(January-March 2025)
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Page 4 of 23
1. Mercy Housing Northwest - Burien Family Housing
Funding request: $2,000,000
Executive Board recommendation: $2,000,000 (forgivable loan)
Address: 12845 Ambaum Blvd SW Burien, WA 98146
PROJECT SUMMARY
Burien Family Housing is a new multifamily 91-unit rental project located near high frequency transit in Burien.
The project will support households earning between 30% area median income (AMI) and 60% AMI with a
focus on households with children, including 34 units set-aside for families with children exiting homelessness
and 18 units set-aside for households with a physical disability.
The project includes the redevelopment of a 4.23 acre site currently owned by Mary’s Place which operates an
emergency shelter on-site. Mary’s Place will be donating 2-acres of the project site to Mercy Housing
Northwest for the development of new affordable housing, while retaining 1.31 acres of the site for the
development of a new shelter to replace the existing one. The project will be four stories in size. The
development is comprised of a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom units. 52% of the units are family-
sized two-, three-, and four-bedroom units.
This project received a financial award from SKHHP during the 2022 funding round and secured funding from
King County, the Washington State Department of Commerce, the 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
program, and the Amazon Housing Equity Fund (HEF) program over the course of 2023 and 2024. The project is
a combination 4% and 9% LIHTC project. The project also secured 34 project-based vouchers from the King
County Housing Authority and a Resident Services award from King County to support the families exiting
homelessness.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Activity Date
Purchase and Sales Agreement 8/29/2022
Zoning Approval 2/1/2024
Site Plan Approval 8/18/2022
Building Permits Issued 2/25/2025
Begin Construction 4/1/2025
Begin Lease-up 6/1/2026
Issued Certificate of Occupancy 8/1/2026
FUNDING RATIONALE
The Executive Board supports the intent of this application for the following reasons:
• The project has been awarded significant financial contributions from King County, State Department
of Commerce (Housing Trust Fund), Amazon, and was awarded $1,093,308 from SKHHP in the 2022
funding round. Additionally, the project received a 9% bond allocation in the 2024 funding round
through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
• The project is ready to begin construction in the first half of 2025.
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Page 5 of 23
• The sponsor’s partnership with Mary’s Place demonstrates a commitment to serving households
experiencing homelessness and will develop a pipeline of permanent housing for Mary’s Place clients.
• Project-based vouchers have been secured which increases the financial stability of the project.
• 75% of the units will be constructed using advanced universal design principals.
• The project includes set-asides for four-bedroom units which are greatly needed to serve larger
families.
• The project strongly aligns with SKHHP Housing Capital Fund adopted priorities including: collaboration
with local community-based organizations, connections and direct experience with populations the
project is proposing to serve, addressing the needs of populations most disproportionately impacted
by housing costs, advancing economic opportunity due to its proximity to transit and other amenities,
providing rental housing for individuals and families earning 0-30% AMI and incorporating supportive
services, and the leverage of private and public investment.
• The site has convenient access to transit, shopping, and services.
PROPOSED CONDITIONS
Standard conditions apply to all projects and are included as Attachment 3 at the end of this memo.
Special Conditions
1. SKHHP will provide project funds to the Contractor in the form of a deferred, contingent,
forgivable loan. Loan terms will account for various factors, including loan terms from other
fund sources and available cash flow. Final loan terms shall be determined prior to release of
funds and must be approved by SKHHP staff. The loan will be secured by a deed of trust
recorded against the development property to ensure that Contractor maintains the project’s
affordability and target population. Contractor shall not be required to repay the loan so long
as it maintains these project requirements.
2. Timeframe for funding commitment. The funding commitment continues for thirty-six (36)
months from the date of Council approval of original award and shall expire thereafter if all
conditions are not satisfied. An extension may be requested to SKHHP staff no later than sixty
(60) days prior to the expiration date. At that time, the Contractor will provide a status report
on progress to date and expected schedule for start of construction and project completion.
The SKHHP Executive Board will consider a twelve-month extension only on the basis of
documented, meaningful progress in bringing the project to readiness or completion. At a
minimum, the Contractor will demonstrate that all capital funding has been secured or is likely
to be secured within a reasonable period of time.
3. Project description of original award from 2022 funding round will be replaced by current
description of the project. Previous funding award shall be combined with current
recommended award but will retain eligibility of use under RCW. 82.14.540.
4. At least 34 of the housing units shall be set-aside for families with children exiting
homelessness who earn no more than 60% AMI and 18 of the housing units shall be set-aside
for households with a physical disability who earn no more that 60% AMI. Use of funds and
population eligibility must be in-alignment with RCW 82.14.530 for 2024 award.
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Page 6 of 23
5. SKHHP funds shall be used solely for new construction, unless otherwise approved by SKHHP
staff.
6. A covenant is recorded ensuring affordability for at least 50 years with size and affordability
distribution per the following table. Changes may be considered based on reasonable
justification as approved by SKHHP.
AMI 1-bedroom 2-bedroom 3-bedroom 4-bedroom Total Units
30% 6 14 5 3 28
50% 30 11 7 -- 48
60% 7 4 3 -- 14
Manager Units 1 -- -- -- 1
Total Units 44 29 15 3 91
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Page 7 of 23
2. TWG Development - Pandion at Star Lake
Funding request: $2,000,000
Executive Board recommendation: $770,000 (loan)
Address: 2526 S 272nd St., Kent, WA 98032
PROJECT SUMMARY
Pandion at Star Lake is a 251-unit multifamily, mixed-use rental project in Kent located adjacent to the
Kent/Star Lake Link light rail station. The project will support households earning between 30% AMI and
80% AMI. 47 units will support households up to 80% AMI. The project has been proposed as a 4% Low
Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) development. The project secured an award from SKHHP in the 2023
Housing Capital Fund funding round totaling $1,170,000, although the project was modified for the 2024
funding round. The project did not secure the needed public and private funds in 2024 to move forward
towards beginning construction. The timeline for beginning construction has been moved out until funds
can be secured to fill a $30 million gap. SKHHP’s awards will assist the project in future applications to
funders.
This transit-oriented development (TOD) project will provide a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-
bedroom units. The project will include ground floor commercial space consisting of a K-12 learning
center for low-income children operated by the Renton-based STEM Paths Innovation Network (SPIN).
The property was purchased by the developer in December 2022. The project is a six-story building with
five stories of affordable housing over one story of commercial space which also includes ten units of
housing at the residential lobby level, plus basement level parking.
The 251 units includes 163 units for the general population, 59 units for families with children, and 29
units for families with children that require permanent supportive services and are at-risk of being
homeless. 24 units would be accessible units. The project includes 92 studios, 71 1-bedrooms, 36 2-
bedrooms, and 52 3-bedrooms.
29 units of the project are eligible for HB 1590 funds which includes those units for families with
children at-risk of homelessness and require permanent supportive services who earn up to 30% AMI.
Those units would be served by Vision House which would provide on-site supportive services. Of the
29-units, 20-units would be 2-bedroom units and 9-units would be 3-bedroom units to accommodate
families.
FUNDING RATIONALE
The Executive Board supports the intent of this application for the following reasons:
• The project secured a prior funding award from SKHHP and additional funds will assist the
project to leverage other funding sources.
• The project is located adjacent to the future Kent/Star Lake Link light rail station and has
convenient access to transit, schools, grocery stores, and services.
• The construction start date is anticipated farther out than other projects and the sponsor may
have more time to secure the additional funds than other recommended projects prior to
beginning construction.
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• The project has strong partnerships with Vision House who will provide on-site supportive
services for 29 families with children and SPIN who will operate a K-12 learning center in the
commercial space.
• The project will support 29 families with children at-risk of homelessness.
• The project is large and will provide a high number of affordable units near areas with high
displacement risk potential.
• The project sponsor has been in close communication with the City of Kent on project feasibility
and zoning requirements since the property was purchased in December 2022.
• The project sponsor has agreed to voluntarily meet the design standards for properties zoned as
‘Midway Transit Community,’ which is a higher degree of development than what is required
under general mixed-use commercial standards for the City of Kent.
• The project strongly aligns with SKHHP Housing Capital Fund adopted priorities including: being
a transit-oriented development (TOD) project, collaboration with local community-based
organizations, addressing the needs of populations most disproportionately impacted by
housing costs, advancing economic opportunity due to its proximity to the future Link light rail
station and other amenities, and providing rental housing for individuals and families earning 0-
30% AMI and incorporating supportive services.
PROPOSED CONDITIONS
Standard conditions apply to all projects and are included as Attachment 3 at the end of this memo.
Special Conditions
1. SKHHP will provide project funds to the Contractor in the form of a deferred, 1%
interest, non-forgivable loan to the LIHTC partnership. The form of the funds are
subject to change, but shall be agreed upon prior to contract execution. Loan terms will
account for various factors, including loan terms from other fund sources and available
cash flow. Final loan terms shall be determined prior to release of funds and must be
approved by SKHHP staff. The loan will be secured by a deed of trust recorded against
the development property to ensure that Contractor maintains the project’s
affordability and target population.
2. Timeframe for funding commitment. The funding commitment continues for thirty-six
(36) months from the date of Council approval of original award and shall expire
thereafter if all conditions are not satisfied. An extension may be requested to SKHHP
staff no later than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date. At that time, the
Contractor will provide a status report on progress to date and expected schedule for
start of construction and project completion. The SKHHP Executive Board will consider a
twelve-month extension only on the basis of documented, meaningful progress in
bringing the project to readiness or completion. At a minimum, the Contractor will
demonstrate that all capital funding has been secured or is likely to be secured within a
reasonable period of time.
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3. Project description of original award from 2023 funding round will be replaced by
current description of the project. Previous funding award shall be combined with
current recommended award.
4. At least 29 housing units of the total shall be set-aside for families with children at-risk
of homelessness who earn no more than 30% AMI per the requirements of RCW
82.14.530 and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of
“at-risk of homelessness.”
5. SKHHP funds shall be used solely for new construction, unless otherwise approved by
SKHHP staff.
6. A covenant is recorded ensuring affordability for at least 50 years with size and
affordability distribution per the following table. Changes may be considered based on
reasonable justification as approved by SKHHP.
AMI Studio 1-bedroom 2-bedroom 3-bedroom Total Units
30% -- -- 20 9 29
50% 52 41 1 20 114
60% 23 17 8 13 61
80% 17 13 7 10 47
Total Units 92 71 36 52 251
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3. Multi-Service Center - White River Apartments
Funding request: $975,939
Executive Board recommendation: $775,000 (grant)
Address: 1301 31st St SE, Auburn, WA
PROJECT SUMMARY
The White River Apartments is a multifamily, preservation and rehabilitation 24-unit rental project in
Auburn. The building was constructed in 1978 and the nonprofit Multi-Service Center took over
ownership in 2000. The project consists of 24 two-bedroom, one-bathroom units in active use which
includes three units serving households earning up to 30% AMI, sixteen units at 45% AMI, and five units
at 80% AMI. The 80% AMI units are currently occupied by households earning less than 60% AMI and
those units would shift to income restricted up to 60% AMI once funding is awarded. The project would
not displace current residents.
SKHHP funds are requested to support the rehabilitation of the 24 units including: siding replacement,
site lighting, parking lot improvements including curbs and seal coating, replacing domestic hot water
tanks in all units, re-grading areas adjacent to siding and replacement of exterior entry doors. This
project previously applied to SKHHP’s 2023 funding round.
The project is located within walking distance of a bus route that connects to the Auburn Transit Center
and Sounder Commuter Rail Station. South Auburn Elementary School, Game Farm Park, and Ballard
Park are within 0.5 mile of the project. A grocery store is located one mile from the project.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Activity Date
Site Control 1/1/1996
Building Permit Issued End of 2025
Begin Rehabilitation and Renovation End of 2025
End Rehabilitation and Renovation End of 2025
FUNDING RATIONALE
The Executive Board supports the intent of this application for the following reasons:
• The property is in need of rehabilitation to support the health and safety of the residents.
• The project is made up of 2-bedroom units to support larger household sizes.
• 79% of the households at White River Apartments earn no more than 45% AMI.
• The property is close to parks, an elementary school, and transit access to the Auburn Transit
Center and the Auburn Sounder train station.
• The project includes a fenced play area with an accessible ramp into the play yard with recently
installed play equipment.
• Limited SKHHP funds available this funding round required a partial award which will still allow
most of the residential building rehabilitation to move forward.
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• There are limited funding sources available for preservation and rehabilitation – SKHHP is the
only funder on this project. The focus for larger public funders has historically been on creating
new units of affordable housing. Smaller preservation projects like this one are not as
competitive against larger preservation projects competing for the same funds. The project
applied for funding in early 2024 to the State Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund and
SKHHP provided a letter of support, but was not successful in securing funding at that time.
• The rehabilitation will not displace current residents.
• Preservation and rehabilitation of affordable housing is a high-priority for SKHHP.
• The project strongly aligns with SKHHP Housing Capital Fund adopted priorities including: the
project sponsor’s community connection and engagement with the populations they intend to
serve, advancing racial equity, addressing the needs of populations most disproportionately
impacted by housing costs, advancing geographic equity of the Housing Capital Fund, providing
rental housing for extremely-low income households, and preservation.
• Multi-Service Center is a well-established South King County-based nonprofit that owns and
operates over 650 units of affordable housing.
• Multi-Service Center’s housing programs have a history of serving BIPOC community members
with 45% of residents of Multi-Service Center properties identifying as BIPOC.
PROPOSED CONDITIONS
Standard conditions apply to all projects and are included as Attachment 3 at the end of this memo.
Special Conditions
1. SKHHP will provide project funds to the Contractor in the form of a secured grant with
no repayment. Final Contract terms shall be determined prior to release of funds and
must be approved by SKHHP staff. The grant will be secured by a deed of trust recorded
against the property to ensure that Contractor maintains the project’s affordability and
target population. Contractor shall not be required to repay the grant so long as it
maintains these project requirements.
2. Timeframe for funding commitment. The funding commitment continues for thirty-six
(36) months from the date of Council approval and shall expire thereafter if all
conditions are not satisfied. An extension may be requested to SKHHP staff no later than
sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date. At that time, the Contractor will provide a
status report on progress to date and expected schedule for start of construction and
project completion. The SKHHP Executive Board will consider a twelve-month extension
only on the basis of documented, meaningful progress in bringing the project to
readiness or completion. At a minimum, the Contractor will demonstrate that all capital
funding has been secured or is likely to be secured within a reasonable period of time.
3. SKHHP funds shall be used solely for the rehabilitation of the property and may include
the following, unless otherwise approved by SKHHP staff:
a. Landscaping improvements
b. Seal coating and restriping the parking lot
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c. Site lighting improvements
d. Recoating breezeways and replacing railings
e. New siding
f. Exterior paint
g. Replacing gutters and downspouts
h. Replacing unit entry doors and install metal screen doors
i. Replace in-unit and laundry water heaters
4. SKHHP funds shall be prioritized to support building improvements - parking lot
improvements shall not be funded in favor of residential building rehabilitation.
5. SKHHP and Contractor shall agree to the specifics on what will be funded prior to
executing a contract to ensure eligibility of expenses in alignment with RCW 82.14.540
and to mitigate cost-overruns.
6. A covenant is recorded ensuring affordability for at least 50 years with size and
affordability distribution per the following table. Changes may be considered based on
reasonable justification as approved by SKHHP.
AMI 2-bedroom
units
Total Units
30% 3 3
45% 16 16
60% 5 5
Total Units 24 24
7. Should cost overruns occur that require funds above SKHHP’s contribution, sponsor will
work towards filling the funding need through their capital budget process or seeking
funds through other sources.
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4. Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties - Burien Miller Creek
Funding request: $1,300,000
Executive Board recommendation: $555,000 (grant)
Address: 511 S 136th St Burien, WA 98168
PROJECT SUMMARY
Burien Miller Creek is a 40-unit homeownership project in Burien. The project is comprised of three- and
four-bedroom homes for purchase: 20 units for households earning an average 50% AMI and 20 units
for households earning up to 80% AMI. The project is currently under construction and SKHHP awarded
the project $300,000 in the 2022 funding round which has been requested to support the construction
of five units for households earning an average of 50% AMI not to exceed 60% AMI. All homebuyers
must have lived in King County for a least one year and 25% of the homes are reserved for households
with a connection to the community – being defined as within two miles from the project.
The project will provide permanent affordability through the execution of a ground lease upon sale of
the home. Habitat will have the Right of First Option to buy the home at an appreciated rate of 1.5% per
year. When the home is resold, the price is set at the cost of acquisition and any rehab needed, allowing
the home to be affordable to low- and moderate-income buyers in perpetuity. Habitat requires that the
home must be the buyer’s primary residence and must be owner occupied for the life of the home. The
buyer’s housing costs will be kept at or below 35% of gross household income.
The project has secured awards totaling $23 million and reports a funding gap of $3.3 million. The
funding gap is due to increased construction costs, higher interest rates on construction loans, and
lower mortgage revenue due to Habitat’s commitment to serve families at lower AMIs in this
development.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Activity Date
Site Control 3/26/2021
Building Permit Issued 3/24/2023
Begin Construction 11/08/2022
End Construction 2/1/2026
Full Occupancy 6/30/2026
FUNDING RATIONALE
The Executive Board supports the intent of this application for the following reasons:
• Homeownership is a high priority for SKHHP.
• Over $7 million has been invested in the site and over $23 million has been committed.
• Historically, out of the total number of households the sponsor has served, 65% identify as
BIPOC families.
• Habitat has implemented a community preference policy to help guide homeowner selection.
All applicants must have been residents of King County in the past year and 25% of the homes
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are reserved for those with a connection to the community (being defined as within a 2-mile
radius of the project site).
• The project began vertical construction in October 2024 and is fully permitted.
• Every homebuyer will have a sale price and mortgage set at no more than 35% of their
household income based on household size.
• Limited funds available from SKHHP required a partial award to be made to balance the need of
other priority projects with consideration of geographic equity.
• SKHHP awarded this project $300,000 in the 2022 funding round. Habitat reports a funding gap
due to construction cost overruns and interest rates impacting the mortgages at the AMI levels
they wanted to serve. SKHHP funds will help the project close the gap and enable them to serve
the lower AMI households they have committed to serve.
• The 32 3-bedrooms and 8 4-bedrooms spread across 10 buildings will provide badly needed
larger, family sized homes.
• The project was approved for participation in the City of Burien affordable housing
demonstration program.
• The project strongly aligns with SKHHP Housing Capital Fund adopted priorities including: the
project sponsor’s community connection and engagement with the populations they intend to
serve, advancing racial equity, addressing the needs of populations most disproportionately
impacted by housing costs, leverage of public and private funds, and homeownership.
PROPOSED CONDITIONS
Standard conditions apply to all projects and are included as Attachment 3 at the end of this memo.
Special Conditions
1. SKHHP will provide project funds to the Contractor in the form of a secured grant with
no repayment. Final Contract terms shall be determined prior to release of funds and
must be approved by SKHHP staff. The grant will be secured by a deed of trust recorded
against the property to ensure that Contractor maintains the project’s affordability and
target population. Contractor shall not be required to repay the grant so long as it
maintains these project requirements.
2. Timeframe for funding commitment. The funding commitment continues for thirty-six
(36) months from the date of Council approval of original award and shall expire
thereafter if all conditions are not satisfied. An extension may be requested to SKHHP
staff no later than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date. At that time, the
Contractor will provide a status report on progress to date and expected schedule for
start of construction and project completion. The SKHHP Executive Board will consider a
twelve-month extension only on the basis of documented, meaningful progress in
bringing the project to readiness or completion. At a minimum, the Contractor will
demonstrate that all capital funding has been secured or is likely to be secured within a
reasonable period of time.
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3. Project description of original award from 2022 funding round will be replaced by
current description of the project. Previous funding award shall be combined with
current recommended award.
4. The recommended $300,000 (2024) from general fund contributions shall support the
development of five (5) housing units at an average 50% AMI on initial sale (among the
20 units with an average 50% AMI restriction) and be permanently restricted at 70%
AMI upon resale.
5. The recommended $255,000 (2024) and the previously awarded $300,000 (2022) shall
support the development of five (5) units at an average 50% AMI on initial sale (among
the 20 units with an average 50% AMI restriction) and be permanently restricted not to
exceed 60% AMI upon resale.
6. SKHHP funds shall be used solely for new construction, soft costs, or other development
costs, unless otherwise approved by SKHHP staff.
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ATTACHMENT 1: Economic Summaires of Recommended Projects
Project: Mercy Housing Northwest - Burien Family Housing
Proposed Funding Sources by Amounts and Status
Funding source Proposed Amount Status
SKHHP (2024) $2,000,000 Recommended
SKHHP (2022) $1,093,308 Committed
4% LIHTC Equity $9,405,093 Committed
9% LIHTC Equity $13,446,619 Committed
State HTF $4,000,000 Committed
King County (2023) $6,000,000 Committed
Permanent Amortizing Loan $5,892,060 Committed
Amazon HEF Loan $9,500,000 Committed
Mercy Loan Fund $999,999 Committed
Land Contribution $1,800,000 Committed
Deferred Developer Fee $1,011,384 Committed
National Housing Trust Fund $1,000,000 Committed
King County 2024/CHIP Pass Thru $1,900,000 Committed
TOTAL $58,048,463
Proposed Use of Funds and Total Residential Cost Per Unit
Proposed use Amount Per Unit
Acquisition $1,820,000 --
Construction $42,217,570 --
Soft Costs $8,634,716 --
Other Development Costs $5,376,177 --
TOTAL $58,048,463 $637,895
Residential Cost Per Square Foot
Item Amount
Residential square footage 86,543
Residential development cost $58,048,463
Cost per square foot $670.75
Residential Cost Per Unit Based on Unit Size
Unit Size Number of Units Unit Square
Footage
Cost per Unit
Average 1-bedroom 44 526 $352,813
Average 2-bedroom 29 788 $528,549
Average 3-bedroom 15 1062 $712,333
Average 4-bedroom 3 1291 $865,934
Common area and other residential spaces,
including parking -- 20,380 $13,669,825
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Project: TWG – Pandion at Star Lake
Proposed Use of Funds and Total Residential Cost Per Unit
Proposed use Amount Per Unit
Acquisition $6,207,361 --
Construction $87,306,025 --
Soft Costs $15,032,371 --
Construction Financing $9,298,009 --
Other Development Costs $8,876,434 --
TOTAL $126,720,200 --
TOTAL NON-RESIDENTIAL $4,413,357 --
TOTAL RESIDENTIAL (includes common areas) $122,306,843 $487,278
Residential Cost Per Square Foot
Item Amount
Residential square footage 278,255
Residential development cost $122,306,843
Cost per square foot $439.55
Residential Cost Per Unit Based on Unit Size
Unit Size Number of Units Unit Square
Footage
Cost per Unit
Average Studio 92 415 $182,413
Average 1-bedroom 71 650 $285,707
Average 2-bedroom 36 926 $407,023
Average 3-bedroom 52 1,139 $500,647
Common area and other residential spaces,
including parking
-- 107,767 $47,368,930
Project: Multi-Service Center – White River Apartments
Proposed Funding Sources by Amounts and Status
Funding source Proposed Amount Status
SKHHP (2024) $975,939 Recommended
TOTAL
Proposed Use of Funds and Total Residential Cost Per Unit
Proposed use Amount Per Unit
Rehabilitation $747,939 --
Rehabilitation Contingency $150,000 --
Soft Costs $50,000 --
Other Development Costs $28,000 --
TOTAL $975,939 $40,664
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Project: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties - Burien Miller Creek
Proposed Funding Sources by Amounts and Status
Funding source Proposed Amount Status
SKHHP (2022) $300,000 Committed
SKHHP (2024) $550,000 Recommended
King County $3,547,282 Committed
HTF $3,125,000 Committed
CHIP $1,934,500 Committed
HUD $850,000 Committed
HTF Unit Subsidy (2024) $1,000,000 Committed
Construction Financing $12,562,607 Committed
Habitat for Humanity $2,324,297 Committed
TOTAL $26,193,686
Proposed Use of Funds and Total Residential Cost Per Unit
Proposed use Amount Per Unit
Acquisition $2,086,758 $52,169
Construction $20,931,597 $523,290
Soft Costs $1,906,163 $47,654
Other Development Costs $1,269,168 $31,729
TOTAL $26,193,686 $654,842
Residential Cost Per Square Foot
Item Amount
Residential square footage 54,662
Residential development cost $26,193,686
Cost per square foot $479.19
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ATTACHMENT 2: Summary Changes of SKHHP Awarded Projects that Reapplied
Project: Mercy Housing Northwest - Burien Family Housing
Project changes between the awarded project from the 2022 SKHHP funding round and the 2024
application are as follows:
2024 2022 Changes
Populations
served
34 – families with children
exiting homelessness
16 – families with children
18 – households with a
physical disability
22 – general population
35 – families with
children exiting
homelessness
54 – families with
children
• Fewer units for
families with children
• Added units for
households with a
disability and general
population
Total units 91 89 • One unit added for an
on-site manager
• One additional
affordable unit
AMI 0-60% 0-60% • No change
AMI/unit
count
0-30% - 28
30-50% - 48
50-60% - 14
0-30% - 35
30-50% - 28
50-60% - 26
• More 50% units and
fewer 30% and 60%
units
LIHTC 4%/9% 4% • Added 9% LIHTC
Cost $59.7m $47.4m • Higher budget
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Project: TWG – Pandion at Star Lake
Project changes between the 2023 awarded project and the 2024 application are as follows:
2024 2023 Changes
Number of
buildings
1 2 • Modified from 2
buildings to 1
Populations
served
163 units - general
population
59 units - families
with children
29 units - families
with children that
require permanent
supportive services
and are at-risk of
being homeless
Building 1:
109 units - general population
30 units - families with children
25 units - families with children
that require permanent
supportive services and who are
transitioning out of homelessness
or are at-risk of homelessness
4 units - households with I/DD
Building 2:
173 units – seniors earning 80-
100% AMI
• No seniors at 80-100%
AMI
• No families that are
transitioning out of
homelessness
• No IDD units
• Larger number of general
population units in lower
income building
• More units for families
with children
Total units 251 341 (168 and 173) • 90 fewer units
AMI 0-80% 0-100% • No 80-100% AMI units
AMI/unit
count
0-30% - 29
30-50% - 114
50-60% - 61
60-80% - 47
0-30% - 29
30-50% - 97
50-60% - 42
80-100% - 173
• Number of 0-30% units
unchanged
• More 30-60% units
• Added 80% units
• Removed 80-100% units
LIHTC 4% 4%/9% • Not applying for 9%
LIHTC
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Project: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties - Burien Miller Creek
Project changes between the awarded project from the 2022 SKHHP funding round and the 2024
application are as follows:
2024 2022 Changes
Number of
buildings
10 10 • No change
Populations
served
Homebuyers with
connection to the
community
Homebuyers with
connection to the
community
• No change
Total units 40 Phase 1 – 20 units
Phase 2 – 20 units
• Removed Phase 1 and
2 and are considering
the project a single
project.
AMI 20 units - average of 50%
AMI
20 units - 80% AMI
Phase 1 (20 units) – up to
50% AMI
Phase 2 (20 units) – 80%
AMI
• Changed from 20
units at 50% AMI to
an average 50% AMI
Cost $26.2m $8.4m (First 20 units only) • Higher development
cost
SKHHP
funding
request
Request: $1.3m for 20
units at average 50% AMI.
Recommended: Partial
award of $300,000 (GF)
for 5 units at average 50%
AMI with resale up to 70%
AMI & $255,000 for 5
units at average 50% AMI
with resale up to 60% AMI
$300k applied to 20 units up
to 50% AMI > $300k applied
to 20 units at average 50%
AMI > $300,000 applied to 5
units at average 50% AMI
• Request to fund fewer
of the 20 total units.
Total project units
unchanged.
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ATTACHMENT 3: Standard Conditions for Funding
1. Contractor shall provide SKHHP with development and operating budgets based upon
actual funding commitments for approval by SKHHP staff. Contractor must notify
SKHHP staff immediately if it is unable to adhere to these budgets and must submit new
budget(s) to SKHHP staff for approval. SKHHP staff shall not unreasonably withhold its
approval of these budget(s), so long as they do not materially or adversely change the
Project. This shall be a continuing obligation of the Contractor, and shall survive the
transfer or assignment of the Contract. Contractor’s failure to adhere to budgets (either
original or new/amended) may result in SKHHP’s withdrawal of its funding commitment.
Contractor must prepare and submit final budgets to SKHHP at the time it starts project
construction and at the project’s completion.
2. Contractor shall submit to SKHHP evidence of funding commitments from all proposed
public and private funding sources. If Contractor cannot secure an identified
commitment within an application’s time frame, Contractor shall immediately notify
SKHHP staff and describe its anticipated actions and time frame for securing alternative
funding.
3. Contractor shall use SKHHP provided funds toward specific project costs as included in
the Contract and consistent with RCW 82.14.540 and/or 82.14.530, as applicable.
Contractor may not use SKHHP funds for any other purpose unless SKHHP staff
authorizes such alternate use in writing. If budget line items with unexpended balances
exist after completion of the project, SKHHP and other public funders shall approve
adjustments to the project capital sources (including potential reductions in public fund
loan balances).
4. Contractor shall evaluate and consider maximizing sustainability features for the Project
(such as an efficient building envelope and heat pumps) and shall propose a plan to
maximize the Project’s sustainability.
5. Contractor shall use and document an open and competitive bidding process (consisting
of at least three bids) for construction and related consultant services associated with
the project, regardless of the source of funds used to pay their costs. Contractor shall
pay RCW 39.12 prevailing wages in all projects funded by SKHHP that include
construction activities, unless federal funds awarded to the project mandate use of
federal prevailing wage rates.
6. If Contractor uses federal funds toward the Project, it must meet applicable federal
guidelines, including but not limited to: contractor solicitation; bidding and selection;
wage rates; and federal laws and regulations.
7. Contractor shall maintain documentation of any necessary land use approvals, permits,
and licenses required by the jurisdiction in which the project is located.
8. Contractor shall submit to SKHHP project monitoring reports quarterly through its
completion of the project, and annually thereafter. Contractor shall submit a final
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budget to SKHHP upon project completion. If applicable, Contractor shall submit initial
tenant information as required by SKHHP.
9. Contractor is required to provide SKHHP with quarterly status reports for projects
funded through SKHHP’s Housing Capital Fund during the project’s development stage
(from the time funds are awarded until the project’s completion and occupancy). These
quarterly reports must include at a minimum the status of funds expended and progress
to date. SKHHP will rely on these quarterly reports to determine whether Contractor is
making satisfactory progress on the project.
10. SKHHP may inspect the project site during the project’s construction.
11. After occupancy, the Contractor will submit annual reports to SKHHP summarizing the
number of project beneficiaries, housing expenses for the target population, and the
proportion of those beneficiaries that are low- and/or moderate-income and that meet
other eligibility criteria established in the Contract. In addition, the Annual Report shall
include certifications to SKHHP that it is in compliance with the Covenant, which shall
include the most current occupancy information, rent schedule (showing which Units
are in each income class), a calculation justifying any increases in rents from the
previous rent schedule, consistent with the Covenant and the Contract, and the actual
rents being charged to each unit. SKHHP shall have the right to review rents for
compliance and approve or disapprove them every year. In the event the Contractor
submits annual certifications to satisfy the reporting requirements of multiple funders,
Contractor will designate and report all units at the income class required by the most
restrictive funder as well as the classification for purposes of the Covenant and this
Contract. The Contractor shall also include with such certification any changes in the
management policies for the Property and such other information covering the prior
calendar year as SKHHP may request by notice at least ninety (90) days in advance of the
due date, and with such accompanying documentation as SKHHP may request. The
Annual Reports shall be submitted by June 30 of each year and will be required for the
full duration of the Affordability Period. SKHHP will also periodically evaluate all projects
for long term sustainability.
12. For rental projects, Contractor shall maintain the project in good and habitable
condition for the duration of its affordability term.
13. SKHHP shall reimburse the Contractor for satisfactory completion of the requirements
specified in the Contract and upon Contractor’s submission to SKHHP of invoices and
supporting documentation of eligible expenses.
14. SKHHP shall retain 5% of the funding award (“retention”) and shall release the retention
only after construction is complete and all other obligations outlined in the contract
have been satisfied.
15. A covenant is recorded ensuring affordability for at least 50 years, with unit size,
number of units, and affordability distribution established prior to executing Contract.
36
City of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Tukwila City Council
FROM: Brandon Miles, Director, Strategic Initiatives
CC: Mayor McLeod
DATE: March 4, 2025
SUBJECT: Lodging Tax Funding Request
ISSUE
Review of lodging tax funding requests from the City of Tukwila for the 2025 Juneteenth
Celebration.
BACKGROUND
The City collects a 1% lodging tax on certain qualifying overnight stays in paid accommodations
(hotels/motels/Airbnb) in the City. State law limits the use of these funds to tourism promotion1.
There is currently just over $2.5 million in lodging tax funds available for use.
The City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) reviews all requests for use of lodging tax funds.
LTAC then forwards a list of recommended applications to the City Council for its review and
consideration. If LTAC does not recommend an application be funded, that application is not
forwarded to the City Council. The City Council may approve or deny any of the applications
recommended by the LTAC. The City Council may also approve an application and increase or
decrease the dollar amount awarded2.
The City accepts applications on a rolling basis, with the LTAC reviewing requests monthly.
1 RCW 67.28.080 (6) defines “tourism promotion” as “…activities, operations, and expenditures designed to
increase tourism, including but not limited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the
purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; developing strategies to expand tourism; operating tourism
promotion agencies; and funding the marketing of or the operation of special events and festivals designed to
attract tourists.”
2 On August 17, 2016, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office issued an informal opinion regarding
whether a municipality could change the dollar amounts recommended by the local lodging tax advisory
committee. Specifically, the informal opinion states:
“When awarding lodging tax revenues pursuant to RCW 67.28.1816(2)(b)(ii), a municipality may award amounts
different from the local lodging tax advisory committee’s recommended amounts, but only after satisfying the
procedural requirements of RCW 67.28.1817(2), according to which the municip ality must submit its proposed
change to the advisory committee for review and comment at least forty -five days before final action on the
proposal.”
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
Pending Applications
At its meeting on February 8, 2025, the LTAC recommended approval of the City’s request for
funding for the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration.
1. City of Tukwila, Juneteenth (Not to Exceed $10,000)
The City of Tukwila is requesting lodging tax funds to support the City of Tukwila’s 5th Annual
Juneteenth Commemoration. Juneteenth is the oldest historical celebration in the United States
remembering the end of enslavement of African American people and the continued fight against
racism. In 2020 the City of Tukwila Council adopted Resolution 1992, declaring that Juneteenth
will be recognized in our community every year. The City is committed to honoring the legacy of the
Juneteenth Commemoration and Tukwila’s African American community by supporting this
signature event for residents, community members, businesses, and guests. This year’s event will
occur on June 19 at the Sullivan Center on Tukwila International Blvd.
LTAC Recommendation on Application: Approval.
Staff Recommendation on Application: Approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total request for the lodging tax application will not exceed $10,000. No general funds dollars
will be used for these funding allocations. The funding allocation is consistent with the six-year
financial plan for the lodging tax fund and the City’s adopted budget. Any unused funds will remain
within the lodging tax fund.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the three applications as presented.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Juneteenth Application LTAC Application
2. Staff report to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
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City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Staff Memorandum
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Funding Request
Name of Applicant:
City of Tukwila, Administrative Services
Address:
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Total Funds Requested:
$10,000
About the Applicant:
The City of Tukwila is a non-charter City organized under the laws of the State of Washington.
Founded in 1908, Tukwila is one of the oldest cities in King County. Since its founding, Tukwila has
always been a community at the “crossroads.” Tukwila lies at one of the busiest freeway interchanges
in Washington State. The City has a small bedtime population of just under 20,000. During the day
the City’s population swells to over 150,000 people, with people coming to the City to work, shop,
dine, stay in hotels, and to visit once in a life time experiences, such as the Museum of Flight or iFly.
Funds Previously Awarded:
In 2021 the City provided $5,000 for a digital event and in 2022 $10,000 for the event.
Funding Request Narrative:
The City of Tukwila is requesting lodging tax funds to support the City of Tukwila’s 5 th Annual
Juneteenth Commemoration. Juneteenth is the oldest historical celebration in the United States
remembering the end of enslavement of African American people and the continued fight against
racism. In 2020 the City of Tukwila Council adopted Resolution 1992, declaring that Juneteenth will
be recognized in our community every year. The City is committed to honoring the legacy of the
Juneteenth Commemoration and Tukwila’s African American community by supporting this signature
event for residents, community members, businesses, and guests.
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City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Staff Comments:
As part of the City’s branding strategy, it was identified that the City should work on creating events
tied to the City’s multicultural population. The City of Tukwila lacks an authentic large community
event that could be a draw for people from around the region. Juneteenth could be that event that
the City grows overtime.
Key metrics for the event will be total attendance, third party sponsorship participation, social media
metrics, and web visits.
Consistency with Six Year Financial Model:
2025 Sponsorship Funds Provided in Six Year Financial Plan: $175,000
PAC NW Soccer (Approved) ($25,000)
Seawolves (Approved) ($90,000)
City of Tukwila, Juneteenth (Pending) ($10,000)
Remaining Funds: $50,000
For 2025, the Six Year Financial Plan shows the City spending $175,000 for sponsorship,
such as this. There will be sufficient funds remaining in the budget for other 2025 other
sponsorships opportunities that might arise.
City of Tukwila Staff
Recommendation to LTAC: Approval
Notes:
None.
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Application to the City of Tukwila for Use of 2025 Lodging Tax Funds
Event or Activity Name (if applicable): City of Tukwila’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Commemoration
Amount of Lodging Tax Requested: $10,000
Applicant Organization: City of Tukwila
Federal Tax ID Number: 91-6001519
Mailing Address: City of Tukwila
ATTN: Jo Anderson – Inclusion & Engagement Manager
Administrative Services and Community Engagement
6300 Southcenter Blvd, Suite 115
Tukwila, WA 98188
Primary Contact Name: Jo Anderson
Primary Contact Phone: 206-658-7849
Primary Contact Email Address: Jo.Anderson@TukwilaWA.gov
X Check all the service categories that apply to this application:
X Tourism promotion or marketing
X Operation of a special event or festival designed to attract tourists
Operation of a tourism-related facility owned or operated by a non-profit organization
Operation and/or capital costs of a tourism-related facility
owned by a municipality or a public facilities district
X Check which one of the following applies to your agency:
Non-Profit (Note: Attach a copy of your current non-profit corporate registration
from the Washington Secretary of State Office)
X Municipality
For Profit Corporation
I am an authorized agent of the organization/agency applying for funding. I understand that:
• I am proposing a tourism-related service for 2025. If awarded, my organization intends to enter
into a services contract with the City; provide liability insurance for the duration of the contract ,
naming the City as additional insured and in an amount determined by the City; and file for a
permit for use of City property, if applicable.
• My agency will be required to submit a report documenting economic impact results in a format
determined by the City.
Signature: Jo Anderson Date: 12/5/24
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Page 2 of 6
1. Describe your tourism-related activity or event.
The City of Tukwila is requesting lodging tax funds to support the City of Tukwila’s 5th Annual
Juneteenth Commemoration. Juneteenth is the oldest historical celebration in the United
States remembering the end of enslavement of African American people and the continued
fight against racism. In 2020 the City of Tukwila Council adopted Resolution 1992, declaring
that Juneteenth will be recognized in our community every year. The City is committed to
honoring the legacy of the Juneteenth Commemoration and Tukwila’s African American
community by supporting this signature event for residents, community members, businesses,
and guests.
To ensure a successful and collaborative event, the City will reach out to previous partners. This
includes the Tukwila School District/Foster High School’s Black Student Union, the King County
Library System, King County Public Health, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and
Tukwila community members to plan the in-person event at the Tukwila Sullivan Center.
If an event, list the event name, date(s), and projected overall attendance :
- City of Tukwila’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Commemoration
- Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Tukwila Sullivan Center and Plaza, 14350 Tukwila International Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98168
- Attendance: 250+
2. Is your event/activity/facility focusing on attracting overnight tourists, day tourists, or both?
Primarily day tourists attending regional Juneteenth events and experiences.
Describe why visitors will travel to Tukwila to attend your event/activity/facility:
The City of Tukwila is centrally located in the transportation corridor that provides access to
public light rail, King County’s Metro bus system, and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Tukwila is a destination for tourism, entertainment, shopping, and its diversity.
Describe the geographic target of the visitors you hope to attract (locally, regionally,
nationally and/or internationally):
The geographic target of visitors is primarily a 50-mile radius, including summer month
travelers staying in area hotels.
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3. Describe the prior success of your event/activity/f acility in attracting tourists:
The City of Tukwila’s 1st Juneteenth Commemoration in 2021 was adapted to an online program
featured on the Experience Tukwila website. The hour-long commemoration was available in
six segments, allowing viewers to explore different elements. Beginning in 2022, the annual
event moved to an in-person format at the Sullivan Center outdoor plaza. Each year, important
traditions are upheld, including the singing of the Black National Anthem . Further, event
participants learn the story of Juneteenth, visit community resource tables, an d enjoy
educational and musical presentations from a keynote speaker and local artists as well as food
from Black-owned businesses.
Participation in the 2024 celebration exceeded expectations and drew well over 200 celebrants.
This is attributed to moving the event to the actual holiday (as opposed to the following
Saturday), gaining recognition as an annual celebration, and caliber of speakers and performers.
The intention is to develop a program that will draw a wide audience and provide an experience
that is distinctly Tukwila. This will include a mix of speakers and artists that are regionally and
locally known. The event location is a community-centered space for residents and guests to
visit the Tukwila library, frequent the small business, and take advantage of the open space
where families and friends gather. See photos on page 6.
4. If this your first time holding the event/activity/facility, provide background on why you think
it will be successful.
N/A
5. Describe the media strategy you employ to promote your event/activity/facility to attract
overnight and/or day tourists? Please list any digital or print media (newsletters, e-blasts,
social media, etc.) your agency uses or intends to use to promote your event/activity/facility.
The commissioning of a commemorative poster featuring a local African American artist has
become an integral part of the event. In addition to the poster, the City creates a more detailed
flyer announcing the program schedule. City staff and partners will promote the Juneteenth
Commemoration on the City of Tukwila’s Experience Tukwila website, social media platforms,
community contacts, and print materials – the Hazelnut newsletter and posters.
Additionally, the City will work with community-and faith-based organizations, the Tukwila
School District, and the Southside Seattle Chamber of Commerce to assist in promoting the
event on their social media platforms and through word-of-mouth. The program participants –
speakers, artists, performers, educators, etc. will be asked to help spread the word to their
networks as well.
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6. Describe how you will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, retailers and
entertainment establishments in the City of Tukwila.
City staff will promote this event through the Experience Tukwila website and social media,
word-of-mouth, and free online and print calendars through ethnic media channels. Event
posters will be disseminated to partners and lodging establishments, restaurants, retailers, and
entertainment establishments.
7. Is the City able to use your digital and print media for collaborative marketing?
Yes.
8. Describe how you will use the name “Tukwila” in publications, promotions, and for your
event?
The event will be promoted as being sponsored and held in Tukwila.
9. Measurements and Metrics (Note: You will be required to report these metrics as part of the
close out of the agreement between your organization and the City.)
As a direct result of your proposed tourism-related service, provide an estimate of:
A. Overall attendance at your proposed event/activity/facility. 250+ in-person
B. Number of people who will travel fewer than 50 miles for your
event/activity.
225
C. Number of people who will travel more than 50 miles for your
event/activity.
10%
D. Of the people who travel more than 50 miles, the number of
people who will travel from another country or state .
unknown
E. Of the people who travel more than 50 miles, the number of
people who will stay overnight in Tukwila.
unknown
F. Of the people staying overnight, the number of people who will
stay in PAID accommodations (hotel/motel/bed-breakfast) in
Tukwila.
unknown
G. Number of paid lodging room nights resulting from your
proposed event/ activity/facility (for example: 25 paid rooms on
Friday and 50 paid rooms on Saturday = 75 paid lodging room
nights)
unknown
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10. What methodologies did you use to calculate the estimates and what methodologies will you
use to track outcomes, such as total participants, estimated visitor spending, etc.?
City staff will monitor, evaluate, and assess this event as part of planning the campaign to
determine the 2026 Juneteenth Commemoration.
11. Are you applying for lodging tax funds from another community? If so, which communities
and in what amounts?
No.
12. Are you applying for funding from Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority (SSRTA)? If
so, in what amount?
No.
13. What is the overall budget for your event/activity/facility? What percent of the budget are
you requesting from the City of Tukwila?
50% of the budget. Total costs for the event are estimated to be $20,000; $10,000 of which
from the City operations budget. The requested funds in the amount of $10,000 will be used
towards artist and performer honoraria, commissioned poster artwork, and food and beverage.
Food/Bev $5,000
Poster Artwork $3,000
Honoraria $2,000
1) What will you cut from your proposal or do differently if full funding for your request is not
available or recommended?
Adjust/scale program costs.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Please contact staff to discuss the process for having the
application reviewed by the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
Completed applications should be submitted to:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
c/o Brandon Miles
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd
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Tukwila, WA 98188
or
Brandon.Miles@TukwilaWA.gov
Questions?
LTAC Contact:
Brandon J. Miles
(206) 431-3684
Brandon.Miles@TukwilaWA.gov
2024 Juneteenth Commemoration
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City of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO:
CC:
FROM:
BY:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Planning and Community Development Committee
Mayor Thomas McLeod
Nora Gierloff, AICP, DCD Director
Neil Tabor, AICP, Senior Planner
March 4, 2025
Proposal to amend regulations for phased binding site
ISSUE
The proposed code amendment would streamline the process for Binding Site
Improvement Plans.
BACKGROUND
Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIPs) are plans used to provide flexibility for sale of
property within a larger development. These developments often rely on shared
features within the larger site, such as parking, access points, landscaping, utilities,
refuse collection areas, etc. As an alternative to the traditional subdivision process,
these plans are typically used for commercial or industrial sites, however, they can also
be used for residential and mixed use developments, which may desire to sell individual
portions of land for building sites, while retaining shared common areas. BSIPs can also
provide flexibility when combined with creating condominium ownership or phased
development. Phased BSIPs refer to developments that plan to develop in multiple
stages, staggering certain site improvements over multiple phases.
The City’s regulations currently require that phased BSIPs also execute a development
agreement, or contract between the City and developer, in all proposed phased BSIPs.
Staff has found that this requirement is redundant to other phased BSIP requirements,
burdensome to both City and developer time and resources, and genera lly out of step
with standards of other comparable jurisdictions.
Codified in TMC 17.16, BSIPs proposing to develop in phases are required to enter into
a development agreement in addition to completing the BSIP. Development agreements
add cost to a project by adding several months of process time for review, analysis,
legal consultants, contracting, and scheduling of a public hearing before City Council.
improvement plans
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This equates to months of unnecessary additional carrying costs for developers on what
are generally large scale projects, in addition to permit fees. In addition to the staff and
City Council time exhausted, this process also creates uncertainty for the d eveloper by
changing the review from being entirely administrative, based on municipal code
standards, to a legislative process before the City Council on a generally, technically
complex topic. While there may be instances in which a development agreement may
be desired by the developer due to project complexity, a desire to vest certain permits,
or other factors, this is unlikely to be the case with most proposed phased BSIPs.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
A public hearing on the code amendment L25-0001 was held at the January 23rd, 2025,
Planning Commission meeting. Commissioners passed a motion to recommend that the
City Council adopt the code amendments without modifications.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
The requirement for phased BSIPs to execute a development agreement is located in
the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 17.16.030(C) Preliminary Binding Site Improvement
Plan (BSIP) approval, Approval Criteria.
Staff proposes removing the sole provision requiring the execution of a development
agreement. References requiring consistency with approvals and options to apply
conditions and limitations for phased BSIPs are already present in other sections of
TMC 17.16 and throughout the TMC.
Language proposed for removal:
TMC 17.16.040(C)
13. Additional Approval Criteria for Phased Development: If the applicant chooses
to develop the property in a phased development, the applicant must execute a
development agreement with the City pursuant to RCW 36.70B.170 if one is not
already in place. This agreement shall govern, at a minimum, the use and
development of the property subject to the BSIP, including:
a). vesting applicable to subsequent permits;
b). the manner in which each phase of the development will proceed to
ensure that the roads and utilities necessary to serve each phase of the development
are constructed prior to the development of each phase;
c expiration of the agreement and all provisions therein.
Structure, formatting and other minor headings have also been edited in this section for
consistency.
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ANALYSIS
Staff Report Criteria
TMC 18.82.030 requires that staff reports for proposed amendments to development
regulations address the five listed criteria in this section. As criteria pertain to both
privately initiated code amendment applications and those proposed by staff, some
criteria may not be as relevant for all code amendment proposals. Criteria and staff
responses are listed below.
1. An evaluation of the application materials;
Staff Response: Not applicable.
2. Impact upon the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code;
Staff Response: The proposed code amendment is consistent with the comprehensive
plan and does not require an amendment to the comprehensive plan. The proposed
amendment to the zoning code intends to streamline the phased binding site
improvement plan process and remove unnecessary requirements.
3. Impact upon surrounding properties, if applicable;
Staff Response: Not applicable.
4. Alternatives to the proposed amendment; and
Staff Response: If the proposed amendment were not adopted, any development
proposing a phased binding site improvement plan would still be required to execute a
development agreement in addition to the phased binding site improvement plan. Staff
discussed the possibility of introducing other additional requirements with the removal of
the development agreement requirement, but found other code sections within Title 17
to be sufficient to ensure that phased BSIPs would meet the conditions required of later
phases of development.
The concept of requiring a development agreement for phased BSIPs that surpass a
specified threshold based on project size or other factors was discussed at Planning
Commission. However, due to the variety of projects that may apply for a phased BSIP,
the potential use of a relatively arbitrary threshold value, the overall lack of value to the
City, and additional time, expense, and inconvenience for the developer to execute a
development agreement, staff did not feel that requiring execution of a development
agreement for projects meeting a specific threshold was of benefit to the City, the
project, or the developer.
In the draft ordinance proposed, developers would retain the ability to pursue a
development agreement in conjunction with a phased BSIP, if so desired.
5. Appropriate code citations and other relevant documents.
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Staff Response: Existing code within TMC Chapter 17.16 Detailed Procedures For
Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIPs) provide staff with adequate ability to enforce
phased binding site improvement plans and include additional relevant conditions and
limitations without the need to do so through a development agreement. Relevant
sections of code are copied below.
TMC 17.16.060(C)
Binding Effect: Approved BSIPs shall be binding and shall be enforceable by the
City. All provisions, conditions and requirements of the BSIP shall be legally
enforceable on the purchaser or on any person acquiring a lease or other
ownership interest of any lot, tract, or parcel created pursuant to the BSIP.
TMC 17.16.070(B)
Phasing of Improvements: To satisfy improvement
requirements, the Short Subdivision Committee is
authorized to impose conditions and limitations on the
BSIP. If the Short Subdivision Committee determines that
any delay in satisfying requirements will not adversely
impact the public health, safety or welfare, the Committee
may allow requirements to be satisfied prior to:
1. Issuing the first building permit for the site; or
2. Prior to issuing the first building permit for any phase, ;or
3. Prior to issuing a specific building’s certificate of
occupancy; or
4. In accordance with an approved phasing plan; or
5. In accordance with plans established by a development
agreement or as otherwise permitted or required by the
TMC.
Decision Criteria
TMC 18.82.020, Decision Criteria provides criteria for the final City Council decision on
proposed code amendments.
Decision criteria are as follows:
1. Is the amendment consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan?
2. Does the amendment meet at least one of the
following criteria:
a. Eliminates conflicts between TMC and the
Comprehensive Plan; or
b. Accomplishes policy directives of the Council or
Administration; or
c. Corrects an error or errors in the TMC.
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FINANCIAL IMPACT
No direct costs to the City are expected from this code amendment.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is being asked to approve the ordinance and consider this item at the
March 10, 2025 Committee of the Whole and subsequent March 17, 2025 Regular
meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Ordinance
B. TMC 17.16.040 Proposed Code Amendments (Redlined)
C. Written public comment received ahead of 1/23/2025 Public Hearing
D. Minutes from 1/23/2025 Planning Commission Public Hearing
E. Staff Report from 1/23/2025 Public Hearing
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2025 Legislation: BSIP Amendments Page 1 of 4
Version: 3/4/25
Staff: N. Tabor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2740
§3 (PART), AS CODIFIED AT TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE
(TMC) SECTION 17.16.040, “PRELIMINARY APPLICATIONS,”
TO REMOVE LANGUAGE REQUIRING PHASED BINDING
SITE IMPROVEMENT PLANS TO EXECUTE DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,Title 17 of the Tukwila Municipal Code establishes procedures for binding
site improvement plans and the City desires these procedures to be consistent with the
provisions of state law, as per RCW 58.17.035; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to eliminate unnecessary development regulations; and
WHEREAS, the requirement for all phased binding site improvement plans to execute a
development agreement was identified as redundant to existing regulations within TMC Title
17; and
WHEREAS, on January 23, 2025, the Tukwila Planning Commission, following
adequate public notice, held a public hearing to receive testimony concerning amending the
Tukwila Municipal Code and at that meeting adopted a motion recommending the proposed
changes as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2025, the City’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
Responsible Official issued a Determination of Non-Significance on the proposed
amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Tukwila City Council finds that the amendments set forth herein in the
best interest of the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Attachment AB
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2025 Legislation: BSIP Amendments Page 2 of 4
Version: 3/4/25
Staff: N. Tabor
Section 1. Adoption of Findings of Fact. The City Council finds as follows:
A. The above recitals, set forth as “WHEREAS” clauses, are hereby adopted as
Findings of Fact in support of the adoption of this ordinance.
B. The amendments that are established below comply with the requirements of the
Washington State Growth Management Act and the Tukwila Municipal Code.
Section 2. Ordinance No. 2740 §3 (part), as codified at TMC Section 17.16.040,
“Preliminary Applications,” subparagraph C, is hereby amended to read as follows:
17.16.040 Preliminary Applications
C.Approval Criteria:
1. Prior to approval of any BSIP, the Short Subdivision Committee shall ensure that
the following improvements are provided to sufficiently service the anticipated uses
throughout the proposed plan and the decision criteria that follow are met:
a. Adequate water supply.
b. Adequate sewage disposal.
c. Appropriate storm drainage improvements.
d. Adequate fire hydrants.
e. Appropriate access to all anticipated uses within the plan.
f. Provision for all appropriate deed, dedication, and/or easements.
g. Monumentation of all exterior tract corners.
2.Legal Lots:
a. Residential BSIPs shall consist of one or more contiguous legally-created lots
and each lot shall meet the minimum dimensional requirements of the applicable zone or
overlay district.
b. If the site will contain commercial or industrial uses, or mixed-use commercial
and residential uses, the lots shall meet the minimum dimensional requirements of the
zoning district or meet the definition of “integrated site” in TMC 18.06, such that when taken
as a whole and not considering interior lot lines, the integrated site meets all applicable
zoning and subdivision requirements.
3. Appropriate easements and maintenance agreements for shared facilities,
including but not limited to, circulation, parking, utilities and landscaping, have been
provided.
4. Modifications to the minimum zoning standards for individual lots located within
the integrated site -- including setbacks, parking, landscaping, lot area and lot dimension --
are not detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, do not adversely affect the rest
of the integrated site or other properties in the vicinity, and do not impede planned street,
trail or pedestrian networks for the neighborhood or district.
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2025 Legislation: BSIP Amendments Page 3 of 4
Version: 3/4/25
Staff: N. Tabor
5. Common improvements necessary to serve any particular phase of development
must be sufficient for meeting the zoning and subdivision requirements for that phase.
6. Access to the integrated site meets the subdivision ordinance standards. Access
within the site provides for safe and efficient circulation and meets Fire Department access
requirements.
7. The circulation system incorporates appropriate provisions for safe pedestrian
activity to the site from the street and from building to building within the site.
8. The sign regulations shall be applied to the integrated site as a whole. For
example, the number of freestanding signs allowed is based on one (1) site within the BSIP.
Individual ownerships within the integrated site are not considered to be separate sites in
determining the number of freestanding signs allowed.
9. The requirements of the Washington State Building Code are met.
10. Future Development: The BSIP shall contain a provision requiring that any
subsequent development of the site shall be in conformance with the approved and recorded
BSIP.
11.Dedication Statement:Where lands are required or proposed for dedication, the
applicant shall provide a dedication statement and acknowledgement on the BSIP.
12. The BSIP shall be consistent with any City approved master plans and
development agreements.
D.12.Additional Approval Criteria for BSIPs Proposing Condominium
Ownership:Condominium developments are eligible for BSIP approval when the purpose
of such approval is to divide the property so a portion of the parcel or tract can be subjected
to either RCW Chapter64.32 or64.34. A BSIP can only be approved when the development
hasalready been constructed or when the approvalhasbeen obtainedand a building permit
for an entire development or a portion of a development is issued.
13. Additional Approval Criteria for Phased Development: If the applicant chooses to
develop the property in a phased development, the applicant must execute a development
agreement with the City pursuant to RCW 36.70B.170 if one is not already in place. This
agreement shall govern, at a minimum, the use and development of the property subject to
the BSIP, including:
a. vesting applicable to subsequent permits;
b. the manner in which each phase of the development will proceed to ensure
that the roads and utilities necessary to serve each phase of the development are
constructed prior to the development of each phase;
c. expiration of the agreement and all provisions therein.
14. Consistency: The BSIP shall be consistent with any City approved master plans
and development agreements.
Section 3. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser Authorized. Upon approval
of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are authorized to make necessary
corrections to this ordinance, including the correction of clerical errors; references to other
54
DR
A
F
T
2025 Legislation: BSIP Amendments Page 4 of 4
Version: 3/4/25
Staff: N. Tabor
local, state or federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations; or ordinance numbering and
section/subsection numbering.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to be
invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the
remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to any other person or situation.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published
in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five days
after passage and publication as provided by law.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this _______ day of ___________________, 2025.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Andy Youn-Barnett, CMC, City Clerk Thomas McLeod, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Published:
Effective Date:
Ordinance Number:
Office of the City Attorney
55
CHAPTER 17.16
DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR
BINDING SITE IMPROVEMENT PLANS (BSIPS)
Sections:
17.16.010 Purpose
17.16.020 Applicability
17.16.030 Decision Process
17.16.040 Preliminary Applications
17.16.050 Expiration of Preliminary Approval
17.16.060 Final Applications
17.16.070 Improvements
17.16.080 Alterations and Vacations
17.16.010 Purpose
A.This chapter is established to:
1.Provide an optional process for land under single ownership to be divided
for the purpose of sale or lease;
2.Accommodate the division of land for the purpose of sale or lease of
property within an integrated commercial or industrial center, which allows certain zoning
standards (minimum parking, setbacks, landscaping, lot area and lot dimension) on the
individual lots to be modified provided the standards for the entire center are met;
3.Facilitate alternative ownership options by allowing BSIPs in conjunction
with a condominium process for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes (RCW
64.34);
4.Allow phased infrastructure improvements for large tracts of land.
17.16.020 Applicability
A.Eligibility: A BSIP application may be submitted for a project located on any
land zoned multi-family, commercial, or industrial, consistent with the terms of this
chapter.
B.Construction Authorization Through Other Permits: A BSIP creates or alters
existing lot lines. A BSIP does not authorize construction. Construction is permitted upon
approval of construction and building permits that implement the BSIP.
17.16.030 Decision Process
A.Applications for BSIPs shall be processed as Type 2 decisions subject to the
provisions of TMC 18.104.
17.16.040 Preliminary Applications
A.Application Requirements: Applications for preliminary BSIPs shall meet
the permit submittal requirements found at TMC 18.104.060.
Attachment B
56
B.Review Procedures: Applications for preliminary BSIPs shall be reviewed in
the same manner prescribed in TMC 17.12.030(B) for preliminary short subdivisions.
C.Approval Criteria:
1.Prior to approval of any BSIP, the Short Subdivision Committee shall ensure
that the following improvements are provided to sufficiently service the anticipated uses
throughout the proposed plan and the decision criteria that follow are met:
a.Adequate water supply.
b.Adequate sewage disposal.
c.Appropriate storm drainage improvements.
d.Adequate fire hydrants.
e.Appropriate access to all anticipated uses within the plan.
f.Provision for all appropriate deed, dedication, and/or easements.
g.Monumentation of all exterior tract corners.
2.Legal Lots:
a.Residential BSIPs shall consist of one or more contiguous legally -
created lots and each lot shall meet the minimum dimensional requirements of the
applicable zone or overlay district.
b.If the site will contain commercial or industrial uses, or mixed -use
commercial and residential uses, the lots shall meet the minimum dimensional
requirements of the zoning district or meet the definition of “integrated site” in TMC 18.06,
such that when taken as a whole and not considering interior lot lines, the integrated site
meets all applicable zoning and subdivision requirements.
3.Appropriate easements and maintenance agreements for shared facilities,
including but not limited to, circulation, parking, utilities and landscaping, have been
provided.
4.Modifications to the minimum zoning standards for individual lots located
within the integrated site -- including setbacks, parking, landscaping, lot area and lot
dimension -- are not detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, do not adversely
affect the rest of the integrated site or other properties in the vicinity, and do not impede
planned street, trail or pedestrian networks for the neighborhood or district.
5.Common improvements necessary to serve any particular phase of
development must be sufficient for meeting the zoning and subdivision requirements for
that phase.
6.Access to the integrated site meets the subdivision ordinance standards.
Access within the site provides for safe and efficient circulation and meets Fire
Department access requirements.
7.The circulation system incorporates appropriate provisions for safe
pedestrian activity to the site from the street and from building to building within the site.
57
8.The sign regulations shall be applied to the integrated site as a whole. For
example, the number of freestanding signs allowed is based on one (1) site within the
BSIP. Individual ownerships within the integrated site are not considered to be separate
sites in determining the number of freestanding signs allowed.
9.The requirements of the Washington State Building Code are met.
10.Future Development: The BSIP shall contain a provision requiring that any
subsequent development of the site shall be in conformance with the approved and
recorded BSIP.
11.Dedication Statement: Where lands are required or proposed for dedication,
the applicant shall provide a dedication statement and acknowledgement on the BSIP.
12. The BSIP shall be consistent with any City approved master plans and
development agreements.
C.12. Additional Approval Criteria for BSIPs Proposing Condominium
Ownership: Condominium developments are eligible for BSIP approval when the
purpose of such approval is to divide the property so a portion of the parcel or tract can
be subjected to either RCW Chapter 64.32 or 64.34. A BSIP can only be approved when
the development has already been constructed or when the approval has been obtained
and a building permit for an entire development or a portion of a development is issued.
13.Additional Approval Criteria for Phased Development: If the applicant
chooses to develop the property in a phased development, the applicant must execute a
development agreement with the City pursuant to RCW 36.70B.170 if one is not already
in place. This agreement shall govern, at a minimum, the use and de velopment of the
property subject to the BSIP, including:
a.vesting applicable to subsequent permits;
b.the manner in which each phase of the development will proceed to
ensure that the roads and utilities necessary to serve each phase of the development are
constructed prior to the development of each phase;
c.expiration of the agreement and all provisions therein.
14.Consistency: The BSIP shall be consistent with any City approved master
plans and development agreements.
17.16.050 Expiration of Preliminary Approval
A.If the BSIP is not recorded within three (3) years of the date of the preliminary
BSIP, the BSIP shall become null and void. Upon written request by the applicant prior to
the expiration date, the Short Subdivision Committee may grant one (1) extension of not
more than one (1) year.
B.Where all conditions of approval of the BSIP have been satisfied, and all
required documents have been submitted within the three (3) year filing period, the
Director may grant a single extension of up to one hundred eighty (180) days for the
processing and recording of the final BSIP.
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17.16.060 Final Applications
A.Application Requirements: Applications for final BSIPs shall meet the permit
requirements found at TMC 18.104.060.
B.Final Approval Review Procedures:
1.The Short Subdivision Committee may grant final approval of the BSIP
when they find that the survey, plan and other documents for recording are consistent
with the preliminary approval. No formal meeting of the Committee is required so long as
the Chair obtains the recommendations and consent of the other members of the
Committee before issuing a decision.
2.Upon final approval of the BSIP, the applicant shall record the plat and all
other relevant documents with the King County Department of Executive Services. The
applicant is responsible for paying the recording fee(s). Upon completion of recording, the
applicant shall provide the Department with a copy of the recorded documents. The BSIP
shall not be considered final until these documents have been provided to the
Department.
C.Binding Effect: Approved BSIPs shall be binding and shall be enforceable by
the City. All provisions, conditions and requirements of the BSIP shall be legally
enforceable on the purchaser or on any person acquiring a lease or other ownership
interest of any lot, tract, or parcel created pursuant to the BSIP.
17.16.070 Improvements
A.Improvements: The following requirements shall be met for each BSIP prior to
the issuance of a building permit for construction within a BSIP.
1.Improvements Required: Consistent with TMC 17.20, and subject to any
applicable development agreement, the following tangible improvements shall be
provided, either by actual construction or a construction schedule approved by the City
and bonded by the applicant, before a BSIP may be recorded:
a.grading and paving of streets and alleys;
b.installation of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, monuments, sanitary and
storm sewers, street lights, water mains and street name signs; together with all related
appurtenances to the specifications and standards of this code, approved by the Short
Subdivision Committee, and in accordance with other standards of the City.
A separate construction permit will be required for any such improvements, along with
associated engineering plans prepared per the City Drafting Standards.
2.Modifications: Proposals that contain commercial uses, industrial uses, or
mixed-uses (commercial and residential), and that meet the definition of “integrated site”
in TMC 18.06, are not required to submit a modification request.
B.Phasing of Improvements: To satisfy improvement requirements, the Short
Subdivision Committee is authorized to impose conditions and limitations on the BSIP. If
the Short Subdivision Committee determines that any delay in satisfying requirements will
59
not adversely impact the public health, safety or welfare, the Committee may allow
requirements to be satisfied prior to:
1.Issuing the first building permit for the site; or
2.Prior to issuing the first building permit for any phase; or
3.Prior to issuing a specific building’s certificate of occupancy; or
4.In accordance with an approved phasing plan; or
5.In accordance with plans established by a devel opment agreement or as
otherwise permitted or required by the TMC.
17.16.070 Alterations and Vacations
A.Alteration: Alteration of an approved BSIP, excluding standard easements for
utilities and lot line adjustments, shall be accomplished following the same procedures
required for a new BSIP application as set forth in this chapter; provided, that only owners
of lots within the BSIP that are directly affected by the proposed alteration shall be
required to authorize application for the alteration. If a property subject to a BSIP approval
is the subject of a development agreement, the alteration of the approved BSIP shall not
require an amendment to the development agreement or approval by the City Council
and, after approval and recording, shall automatically be incorporated within the
development agreement unless otherwise provided in the development agreement.
B.Vacation: Vacation of a recorded BSIP shall be accomplished by following the
same procedures required for a new BSIP application as set forth in this chapter. If a
portion of a BSIP is vacated, the property subject to the vacation shall constitute one lot,
and the balance of the approved BSIP shall remain as approved. Any non -conformities
created by such a vacation must be remedied prior to final approval of the vacation. If a
BSIP property subject to a BSIP approval is the subject of a development agr eement, the
vacation of the approved BSIP, whether total or partial, shall not require an amendment
to the development agreement or approval by the City Council and, after approval and
recording shall automatically be incorporated within the development ag reement unless
otherwise provided in the development agreement.
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1
DATE: January 21, 2025
TO: Tukwila Planning Commission
c/o Nora Gierloff, Director of Community Development
Neil Tabor, AICP, Senior Planner
DELIVERY: email only to: Nora.Gierloff@TukwilaWA.gov
Neil.Tabor@TukwilaWA.gov
Planning@TukwilaWA.gov
FROM: Sam Pace, Housing Specialist
Seattle King County REALTORS®
Sam@SamPace.com
(253)569-2663
RE: Planning Commission Public Hearing re: File Numbers: L25-0001 & E25-0002;
Proposal to Amend Regulations for Phased Binding Site Improvement Plans
Dear Commissioners, Director Gierloff and Senior Planner Tabor,
I am writfng to you on behalf of our 6,000+ members of Seattle King County REALTORS® to provide
public hearing comments (of record) in connectfon with the Planning Commission’s Public
Hearing scheduled for January 23th regarding the City of Tukwila staff proposal to amend
regulatfons for Phased Binding Site Improvement Plans.
It is our understanding that:
•Tukwila’s city code currently provides:
o Applicants proposing to develop a project as a Binding Site Improvement Plan, or
BSIP, are required by sectfon 17.16.030(C) of Tukwila’s Municipal Code to:
(a) enter into a Development Agreement, and
(b)also complete the Binding Site Improvement Plan
City staff have identffied (in our view, correctly) that these requirements are
duplicatfve, and there are numerous reasons that correctfng the situatfon would
be well-advised.
•The proposal before the Planning Commission for public hearing on January 23rd:
o Would remove the sole provision in the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) requiring
the executfon of a Development Agreement when there is a BSIP,
Attachment C
61
2
o Would not compromise, or dilute, existfng development standards - because the
substantfve requirements of development agreements are already present, both
in Chapter 17.16, and elsewhere in city code,
o Would require that a Binding Site Improvement Plan be consistent with any City-
approved master plans and development agreements; and
o Would be applied city-wide if approved by the City Council.
•No Environmental Determinatfon has yet been issued, but one is antfcipated prior to City
Council actfon on the proposal, if the Planning Commission supports moving forward.
We believe Neil Tabor has done a capable job of explaining that BSIPs can provide flexibility to
accommodate a sale of property. We would add to his observatfon by notfng that sometfmes
such sales are necessary to facilitate obtaining the financing that is required to make it possible
to finish building-out a development.
As Mr. Tabor notes,
“…these developments often rely on shared features within the larger site, such as parking,
access points, landscaping, utilities, refuse collection areas, etc. As an alternative to the
traditional subdivision process, these plans are typically used for commercial or industrial
sites, however, they can also be used for residential and mixed use developments, which
may desire to sell individual portions of land for building sites, while retaining shared
common areas. BSIPs can also provide flexibility when combined with creating
condominium ownership or phased development.”
(Bold emphasis was added by the REALTORS®)
We want to focus-in on the fact that (even though the BSIPs are typically used for large
commercial and industrial projects), the issue before the Planning Commission in this public
hearing is also important for housing.
Over tfme, housing legislatfon passed in 2023 - including HB 1110 (Middle Housing) and HB 1337
(Accessory Dwelling Units) - will result in more dwelling units within citfes. But most of that
housing will be rentals, and will not likely provide many homeownership opportunitfes , absent
additfonal changes to state law.
More homeownership opportunitfes not only benefit would-be homebuyers, they also help
renters by reducing the competftfon for rental units (by getting would-be homebuyers out of the
rental market), and they create additfonal opportunitfes for historically disadvantaged
households to access the single most important opportunity to create inter-generatfonal wealth,
which is ownership of residentfal real estate.
One of the reasons those Middle Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units are likely to be mostly
rentals is straightiorward:
62
3
•The “amount of housing that gets built – even if it ’s Middle Housing or ADUs” is a different
issue than “whether the housing is rentals or ownership units.”
•For a builder to create an “home ownership opportunity,” the builder must be able to divide
legal tftle to the property in a way that allows a buyer to “own” a unit, not just “rent ” it.
This is the case regardless what kind of dwelling unit gets built (single family, duplex, triplex,
4-plex, townhome, etc.).
•The two major ways for a developer to divide legal tftle to the land (in a way that has the
potentfal to create homeownership opportunitfes, rather than just rentals) are:
1.Platting of subdivisions (or short-subdivisions, aka short-plats), or
2.Creatfon of a condominium, including a preparing and recording a Declaratfon of
Condominium and Plan, state-mandated Public Offering Statements, etc.
Most folks tend to think of condominiums as a “product type.”
However, a condominium is really a “form of ownership” not a type of housing unit -
which is why slips at marinas, aviatfon hangars, storage units, etc. can all be
condominiums, even though they do not involve any housing.
Both platting and condominiums are expensive, tfme-consuming processes that make it difficult
to increase home ownership opportunitfes in the city. We believe that Binding Site Improvement
Plans/Agreements can serve two important purposes:
First, we believe they have the potentfal to evolve into an especially important alternatfve
to traditfonal platting and condominiums.
Second, we believe they hold the promise of achieving more tfmely reviews, and at less
cost, then platting or condominiums - importantly, without sacrificing substantfve
environmental, health and safety concerns.
But the potentfal and promise of Binding Site Improvement Plans/Agreements remains
compromised if we unduly-burden the BSIP process with a requirement for an additfonal,
duplicatfve, “Development Agreement.”
In our view, Tukwila city staff have correctly discerned that the additfonal requirement for a
duplicatfve “Development Agreement ” results in:
•several months of delay (for review, analysis, processing tfme, scheduling and completfng
a public hearing before the City Council, seeking and issuing required permits, etc.)
•unnecessary added costs to a project (for additfonal permit fees, legal consultants,
interest “carrying costs” on project operatfng /constructfon debt, etc.)
•a lack of predictability for the applicant, which can translate into higher financing costs
(especially if lenders charge a “risk premium” due to lack of certainty regarding when/if
the lender will be repaid). In the worst case, it may result in a desirable project not getting
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4
built because of concerns about whether the project can be completed in tfme for it “to
pencil” for the developer, and the developer ’s lender.
In our view, Mr. Tabor is correct that a major reason for concern about the lack of
predictability results from the fact that the BSIP process involves an administratfve review
of complex topics based on municipal code standards. The applicatfon of those objectfve
standards in a technical administratfve review helps to provide predictability.
However, when the Development Agreement process is added to the mix, it changes the
review from being entfrely administratfve, to a process before the City Council.
The costs and operatfonal impacts of a duplicatfve and unnecessary Development Agreement
requirement do not fall solely on project applicants. They also impact city staff (at a tfme when
obtaining/retaining qualified planning, development and public works professionals is a
significant challenge for citfes). Stated simply: Having an additfonal requirement for a
Development Agreement also impacts the tfme of staff and City Council, with little benefit, if any,
for the city, or its stakeholders.
For these reasons:
•We support the staff recommendatfon to a eliminate the duplicatfve and unnecessary
requirement for a Development Agreement when there is a Binding Site Improvement
Plan, and
•We want to express our appreciatfon for the City taking the initfatfve to bring this
recommendatfon forward to the Planning Commission. There is no magic wand for
wringing unnecessary and unproductfve costs out of the development-review process.
It is a long series of sometfmes tedious small steps. But, cumulatfvely, over tfme, they can
reform our permitting processes in ways that improve the likelihood citfes will not only
“accommodate” housing consistent with RCW 36.70A.020(4), but do so in a way that
makes housing affordable for “all economic segments” of the populatfon.
Thank you for the opportunity provide these public hearing comments of record.
Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questfons, comments, or concerns.
Sincerely,
SEATTLE KING COUNTY REALTORS®
Sam Pace
Sam Pace, Housing Specialist
Sam@SamPace.com ◆ (253) 569-2663
cc: Taylor Shanaman, Director of Governmental & Public Affairs
64
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
Date:
Time:
•Department of Community Development -Nora Gier/off, AICP, Director
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC)
MINUTES
January 23, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Location: Hybrid Meeting -via Microsoft Teams I Public, In-Person Attendance,
Council Chambers, 6200 Southcenter Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188
I.Call to Order
Chair Probst called the Tukwila PC meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
11.Roll Call
Present:
The PC Secretary took roll call.
Chair Martin Probst; Vice Chair Ann Durant; Commissioners Louise Strander, Alex Kaehler, Richard McLeland Wieser, and Jacob Halverson
Excused Absence: Commissioner Jane Ho
Staff: Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of Community Development (DCD); Long Range Planning Manager Nancy Eklund, AICP, DCD; Development Supervisor Max Baker, AICP, DCD; Senior Planner Neil Tabor, AICP, DCD; and PC Secretary Wynetta Bivens, DCD
III.Amendment of the Agenda
No changes to the agenda were requested.
IV.Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Halverson moved to adopt the 12/12/24 Minutes. Commissioner Durantseconded the motion. Commissioner Kaehler recused himself due to absence. Motioncarried.
V.Written General Public Comments
No submittals.
VI.Old Business
None
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 •206-433-1800 •Website: Tukwila WA.gov
1
Attachment D
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Page2
VII.New Business
PUBLICHEARING
1.Shelter, Transitional, Emergency, Permanent (STEP) HousingChanges
FILE NUMBER:L24-0026, E25-0001
PURPOSE:Codeamendment tocomplywithstate law.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction/Citywide
SeniorPlannerNeilTaborgavethepresentationforstaff. HeprovidedbackgroundonSTEPHousing
andthe purposeofthepublichearing.Hesaidthatlegislature narrowedrestrictions fortheSTEP
Housingtypes, whichresulted intheallocationofcertainhousing targets. TheCityofTukwila
previouslyadoptedcodeamendmentstorecognizetheSTEPHousingtypes. In2021,theState
legislaturepassedHB1220whichsetsrequirementsforSTEPHousing. Thefollowinghousingtypesare
notincluded:
RestrictedHousing
StaffnotedthattheState, PugetSoundRegionalCouncil, andCountywideKingCountyeach
development regulationsdonotmeetrequirements. Staffwentoverthe
proposedstandardsandwalkedthroughtheSTEPhousingrequirementsinwhichtheCityofTukwilais
notincompliance.
whilemaintainingreasonableoccupancyandspacingrequirements, staffproposetoamend TMC
18.50.250, 18.50.260andTable18-2TukwilaUrbanCenter (TUC) LandUsesAllowedbyDistrict
Staffaddressedclarifyingquestions fromthePC.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommissionforwardarecommendation foradoptionofthedraft
codeamendmentstotheCityCouncil (CC) fortheirreview.
PublicHearing
ChairProbstopenedthepublichearing.
Staffnotedthattherewerenopublichearingcomments lettersreceived.
Therewasnopublictestimony.
ChairProbstclosedthepublichearing.
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Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
theirreview. CommissionerDurantsecondedthemotion. Motioncarried.
PUBLICHEARING
2.PhasedBinding SiteImprovementPlans (BSIP)
FILE NUMBER:L25-0001, E25-0002
PURPOSE:Codeamendment to removedevelopment agreement requirement.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction/Citywide
SeniorPlannerNeilTabor gavethepresentation forstaff. Heprovidedbackground ontheproposed.
BSIPsareplansusedtoprovide flexibility forsaleofproperty withinalargerdevelopment. These
developments oftenrelyonsharedfeatureswithin thelarger site, suchas: Parking; access points;
landscaping; utilities; refuse collection areas; etc. PhasedBSIPsimprovement plansandproposals to
developinphases arerequired toenter intoadevelopment agreement inadditiontocompletingthe
BSIP.
Therequirementforphased BSIPstoexecuteadevelopment agreementislisted intheTukwila
MunicipalCode (TMC) 17.16.030(C) Preliminary BindingSiteImprovementPlan (BSIP) approval,
approvalCriteria.
Staffproposed removing thesoleprovisionrequiringtheexecutionofadevelopmentagreementwith
phasedBSIPs. Referencesrequiringconsistency withapprovalsandoptionstoapplyconditionsand
limitationsforphasedBSIPsarealreadypresentinothersectionsofTMC17.16andthroughout the
TMC.
StaffaddressedclarifyingquestionsfromthePC.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommissionforwardarecommendation fortheadoptionofthe
draftcodeamendmentstotheCCfortheirreview.
PublicHearing
ApublichearingcommentletterwasreceivedfromSamPace, HousingSpecialist.
SeattleKingCountyREALTORS, onJanuary22, 2025, whichwasdistributedtothePConJanuary22,
2025.
Chair Probstopenedthepublichearing.
Therewasnopublictestimony.
Chair Probst closedthepublichearing.
Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
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Commissioner Durantmovedtoadopt recommendationsandforwardittotheCCfortheir
review. Commissioner McLelandWiesersecondedthemotion. Motioncarried.
PUBLICHEARING
3.TownhousesintheTUC
FILENUMBER:L25-0003, E25-0004
PURPOSE:Codeamendmenttoupdateresidentialallowances.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction/Citywide
SeniorPlannerNeilTaborgavethepresentationforstaff. Heprovidedbackgroundontheproposed. He
statedthisitemisontownhouseallowancesintheTUC, whichisaregionalcenterdesignatedwiththe
PugetSoundRegionalCouncil forfuturegrowth, capitalizingontransitinfrastructure toreducecar
dependency. ThiscenterdesignationundertheRegionalGrowthStrategymakesthisareaeligiblefor
additional fundingthathelpsthemtransitionintodenser, transit-orienteddevelopmentovertime. It
coversPierce, Snohomish, King, andKitsapCounties. Withinthesecounties,centerscanbedesignated
wherehighcapacitytransitexists,encouragingthe greateruseofpublictransportation.
Partoftherequirementforacenteristhatitplans
Staffproposesremovingtownhousesfromthelistofalloweddwellingtypesintable18-2, affectingthe
TUCRegionalCenter, TransitOrientedDevelopment,PondandportionsoftheWorkPlaceZoning
Districts.
Staffarerequesting thatthePCforwardarecommendationfortheadoptionoftheproposedredlined
languagetotheCCfortheirfurtherreviewandadoption.
Staffaddressedclarifyingquestions fromthePC.
Commissioner Halversonstatedthathewouldproposeanamendment, statingheisagainstremoving
townhomesfromtheuseintheTUC.
CommissionerDurantstateditwasmentionedinthestaffbackgroundreportthatregional growth
strategydesignationmakestheareaeligibleforadditionalfunding. Sheaskediftownhomesarenot
unitswhethertheCityofTukwilawouldbe
ineligibleforthefundingorwoulditbelessaccessible tothecity. Shesaidthechangemakessenseto
her. Mr. Taborstatedindividualuseallowanceswouldbeunlikelytoeliminatefundingeligibility, but
regulationsshouldbeconsistentwithgoalsforthecenter.
CommissionerHalverson inquiredwhetherthereisanyconcepttobuildsmalltownhouse-style
residential.
Staffsaidtheyidentifiedthisassomething thatisinconsistent withtheoverallgoals, whichiswhythey
areproposingit.
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Staffproposesremovingtownhousesfromthelistofalloweddwellingtypesintable18-2, affectingthe
Tukwila UrbanCenter (TUC) Regional Center, TransitOriented Development, Pondandportionsofthe
WorkPlaceZoning Districts.
Therewasextensivediscussion aroundthissubject.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommission forwardarecommendationfortheadoptionofthe
draftcodeamendments totheCCfortheirreview.
PublicHearing
Chair Probst opened thepublichearing
Staffnoted thatthere werenopublic hearingcommentslettersreceived.
Therewasno public testimony
ChairProbstclosedthepublichearing
Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
accessoryuseintheTukwilaUrban Centerinsteadofstriking them. CommissionerStrander seconded
themotion. There wasasplitdecision.
Commissioner Halversonmoved toforwardthesplitrecommendationtotheCCfor theirreview.
Commissioner Standersecondedthemotion. Motioncarried.
Staffaskedforclarification on howthePCwould liketoformatthe suggested amendmenttochange
Townhouses toanaccessory use. ThePCdeferredthedecisionto staff.
PUBLICHEARING
4.ResidentialConversions
FILENUMBER:L25-0002, E25-0003
PURPOSE:Codeamendment tocomply withchangesinstatelaw.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction
SeniorPlannerNeilTaborgavethepresentationforstaff. Heprovidedbackgroundontheproposed
amendment. Hestatedthatin the2023legislativesession, HB1042passedandbroadenedallowances
forconversionsofnon-residential toresidential spaces.PertheMunicipalResearchandServicesCenter
MRSC) hewentoverseveral ofthekeyprovisions oftherequirements. Hesaidtheintentwiththiscode
amendmentistoprovideconsistencywiththestatelaw. Also, toprovidefutureallowancesthatthecity
canstillmaintaingroundfloor commercial space thatisrequired innewuse developmentandidentified
areas.
5 69
PlanningCommission Minutes
1/23/25
Page6
Intheinterestinpreservingtheability tomaintaingroundfloorcommercialspacestaffproposetoadopt
amajorpedestriancorridor along TukwilaInternationalBoulevard (TIB).
Staffproposed adoptinganewcodesectionwithintheTukwilaMunicipalCode (TMC). TMC18.50.230
forResidentialConversion.
Staffaddressedclarifyingquestions fromthePC.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommissionforwardarecommendationfortheadoptionofthe
draftcodeamendmentstotheCCfortheirreview.
PublicHearing
Chair Probstopenedthepublichearing.
Staffnoted thatthere werenopublichearingcommentslettersreceived.
Therewasnopublictestimony.
Chair Probst closedthepublichearing.
Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
amendments andforwardthemtothePCfor theirreview. Commissioner Durantsecondedthemotion.
Commissioner Halverson abstained. Motioncarried.
VIII.
Comingup: (maymeetmore thanoncea monthsomemonths)
February -Additional Middle Housing (MH) presentationanddiscussion. Reviewofmapping
anddensitystandards. Introtodesign androadstandards.
March -PublicHearing #1onMH, focusingongeneral development regulations andconsistency.
April -PublicHearing #2onMHfocusing onobjective design standards androadstandards.
MovethefullpackagetotheCityCouncil, aimingforadoption bytheendofJune.
QuickQuack Carwashhasreceiveddesign reviewapproval.Nowtheyareworking onsomeother
issues.
IX.Adjournment
Commissioner McLeland Wiesermovedtoadjourn.Commissioner. Durant seconded themotion.
Adjournedat:7:59 p.m.
Submittedby:WynettaBivens
PCSecretary
670
City of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
STAFF REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Prepared January 14, 2025
HEARING DATE: January 23, 2025
FILE NUMBERS: L25-0001
E25-0002
APPPLICANT: City of Tukwila
REQUEST: Code amendment proposal to amend regulations for
phased binding site improvement plans
LOCATION: Policies apply throughout the City of Tukwila
NOTIFICATION: Hearing Notice was published in the Seattle Times on
January 9, 2025, and posted on the City of Tukwila
website on January 9, 2025.
SEPA DETERMINATION: An environmental determination will be issued prior to
City Council consideration.
STAFF: Neil Tabor, AICP, Senior Planner
BACKGROUND
Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIPs) are plans used to provide flexibility for sale of
property within a larger development. These developments often rely on shared
features within the larger site, such as parking, access points, landscaping, utilities,
refuse collection areas, etc. As an alternative to the traditional subdivision process,
these plans are typically used for commercial or industrial sites, however, they can also
be used for residential and mixed use developments, which may desire to sell individual
portions of land for building sites, while retaining shared common areas. BSIPs can also
provide flexibility when combined with creating condominium ownership or phased
development.
FINDINGS
Codified in TMC 17.16, BSIPs proposing to develop in phases are required to enter into
a development agreement in addition to completing the BSIP. Staff believes this
requirement is redundant to the BSIP process and existing requirements. Development
agreements add cost to a project by adding several months of process time for review,
analysis, legal consultants, contracting, and scheduling of a public hearing before City
Council. This equates to months of unnecessary additional carrying costs for developer s
on what are generally large scale projects, in addition to permit fees. In addition to the
Attachment E
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https://tukwilawa.sharepoint.com/sites/departmentofcommunitydevelopment/DCDPlanning/Long Range Planning/2024 Comprehensive Plan/00 - Planning
Commission Coordination/2025-01-23 public hearing/L25-0001 Phased BSIPs/PC PH SR L25-0001.docx
staff and City Council time exhausted, this process also creates uncertainty for the
developer by changing the review from being entirely administrative, based on
municipal code standards, to a legislative process before the City Council on a
generally, technically complex topic. While there may be instances in which a
development agreement may be desired by the developer due to project complexity,
desire to vest certain permits, or other factors, this is unlikely to be the case with most
proposed phased BSIPs.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
The requirement for phased BSIPs to execute a development agreement is located in
the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 17.16.030(C) Preliminary Binding Site Improvement
Plan (BSIP) approval, Approval Criteria.
Staff proposes removing the sole provision requiring the execution of a development
agreement. References requiring consistency with approvals and options to apply
conditions and limitations for phased BSIPs are already present in other sections of
TMC 17.16 and throughout the TMC.
Language proposed for removal:
Additional Approval Criteria for Phased Development: If the applicant chooses to
develop the property in a phased development, the applicant must execute a
development agreement with the City pursuant to RCW 36.70B.170 if one is not already
in place. This agreement shall govern, at a minimum, the use and development of the
property subject to the BSIP, including:
a.vesting applicable to subsequent permits;
b.the manner in which each phase of the development will proceed to
ensure that the roads and utilities necessary to serve each phase of the development are
constructed prior to the development of each phase;
c.expiration of the agreement and all provisions therein.
Structure, formatting and other minor headings have also been edited in this section for
consistency.
REQUESTED ACTION
Staff is requesting that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation for
adoption of the draft code amendments to the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS
A.TMC 17.16 Proposed Code Amendments (Redlined)
72
City of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
TO:
CC:
FROM:
BY:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Planning and Community Development Committee
Mayor Thomas McLeod
Nora Gierloff, AICP, DCD Director
Neil Tabor, AICP, Senior Planner
March 4, 2025
Amend regulations for STEP Housing to comply with
ISSUE
The proposed code amendments would modify Tukwila’s regulations for emergency
shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing and permanent supportive housing to
comply with state requirements.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1220: Supporting emergency
shelters and housing through local planning and development regulations . Amongst
other provisions, the legislation narrowed restrictions that jurisdictions could place on
the siting of emergency shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing and
permanent supportive housing, subsequently termed “STEP Housing.” STEP Housing
types are defined as in RCW 36.70A.030 and RCW 84.36.043.
•"Emergency shelter" means a facility that provides a temporary shelter for
individuals or families who are currently homeless. Emergency shelter may not
require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement. Emergency
shelter facilities may include day and warming centers that do not provide
overnight accommodations.
•"Transitional housing" means a project that provides housing and supportive
services to homeless persons or families for up to two years and that has as its
purpose facilitating the movement of homeless persons and families into
independent living.
•"Emergency housing" means temporary indoor accommodations for individuals
or families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless that is
intended to address the basic health, food, clothing, and personal hygiene needs
of individuals or families. Emergency housing may or may not require occupants
to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement.
state requirements
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
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Page 2
• "Permanent supportive housing" is subsidized, leased housing with no limit on
length of stay that prioritizes people who need comprehensive support services
to retain tenancy and utilizes admissions practices designed to use lower barriers
to entry than would be typical for other subsidized or unsubsidized rental
housing, especially related to rental history, criminal history, and personal
behaviors. Permanent supportive housing is paired with on-site or off-site
voluntary services designed to support a person living with a complex and
disabling behavioral health or physical health condition who was experiencing
homelessness or was at imminent risk of homelessness prior to moving into
housing to retain their housing and be a successful tenant in a housing
arrangement, improve the resident's health status, and connect the resident of
the housing with community-based health care, treatment, or employment
services. Permanent supportive housing is subject to all of the rights and
responsibilities defined in chapter 59.18 RCW.
While various STEP Housing types may be similar to other housing types, STEP
Housing does not include:
• Group Homes
• Oxford Homes/Recovery Residence
• Assisted Living Facility
• Adult Family Homes
• Senior Living
• Traditional Income-Restricted Housing
HB 1220 became effective on July 25, 2021. Accordingly, to ensure alignment with the
statute, the City adopted regulations regarding STEP Housing via Ordinance No. 2658.
At that time, the Department of Commerce had not yet published guidance regarding
the implementation of HB 1220, nor had King County and the State Office of Financial
Management published the allocation number of beds per STEP Housing typology that
each jurisdiction was required to accommodate.
Commerce has since published STEP Housing guidance and the County has published
the City’s housing targets, which include STEP housing targets for permanent
supportive housing and emergency housing. Tukwila’s Housing targets, established for
the 2024-2044 planning period, include the need to demonstrate capacity for 471
persons requiring permanent supportive housing and 1,242 persons requiring
emergency housing. Housing targets are provided in Figure 1.
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Figure 1: Tukwila Housing Targets
HB 1220 was codified as RCW 35A.21.430, which states that cities are required to allow
transitional housing and permanent supportive housing in all zones that allow for
residential dwelling units and hotels; and indoor emergency shelters and indoor
emergency housing in any zones that allow for hotels. Compliance with these use
allowances was integrated into the Tukwila Municipal Code in 2021 through Ordinance
2658, with the exception of select zoning districts within the Tukwila Urban Center.
RCW 35A.21.430 also states that:
“Reasonable occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use requirements may be
imposed by ordinance on permanent supportive housing, transitional housing,
indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters to protect public health
and safety. Any such requirements on occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use
may not prevent the siting of a sufficient number of permanent supportive
housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor emergency
shelters necessary to accommodate each code city's projected need for such
housing and shelter under RCW 36.70A.070(2)(a)(ii).”
Presently, TMC 18.50.250 and TMC 18.50.260 restrict STEP Housing through buffer
distances between like facilities, and maximum residents per facility as shown in
Table 1. Other provisions of TMC 18.50.250 through 270 also list site features and
services required for STEP Housing types, operational plans, and the features required
to ensure functional facilities that provide for residents’ needs and minimize impacts on
areas surrounding STEP Housing.
In addition to use allowances shown in Table 1, religious organizations are also
permitted to host permitted Emergency Housing and Emergency Shelters within
religious facilities, even if not within a zone that would be required to permit these
housing types (RCW 35A.21.360).
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Page 4
Table 1: Current STEP Buffering and Occupancy Restrictions in TMC
STEP Housing
Type
Buffer Distance
between Uses
Maximum
Occupants per
Housing Facility
Permitted in Zoning
Districts That
Emergency
Housing &
Emergency
Shelters
½ Mile (2,640
feet), unless
functional travel
distance is at
least ½ mile.
45 residents Allow Hotels
Transitional
Housing &
Permanent
Supportive
Housing
½ Mile (2,640
feet), unless
functional travel
distance is at
least ½ mile.
15 residents in
LDR zoning,
30 residents in
MDR zoning, and
45 residents in all
other permitted
zoning districts
Allow Hotels or
Residential Dwellings
FINDINGS & DISCUSSION
The present combination of buffer distance and maximum occupancy restrictions for
STEP Housing types does not comply with the requirement in RCW 35A.21.430 that
“occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use requirements” not “prevent the siting of a
sufficient number of” STEP Housing capacity “to accommodate each code city's
projected need.”
The recent update of the Comprehensive Plan also required that the housing element of
the Comprehensive Plan “Identifies sufficient capacity of land for housing including” …
“emergency housing, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing ” (RCW
36.70A.070, RCW 35.21.915). While the housing element within the Comprehensive
Plan adopted policies to comply with STEP Housing requirements in policies H2.4 and
H2.5, development regulations causing lack of capacity for these housing types were
identified as noncompliant by all review agencies, as shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Comprehensive Plan review comments regarding STEP Housing
Review Agency Comments regarding STEP Housing
Department of Commerce
• The city identified that current zoning does not allow
sufficient capacity to accommodate emergency
housing needs. Updates to development regulations
that create sufficient capacity for emergency
housing should help the city achieve this
requirement. We strongly recommend documenting
any planned updates to create sufficient capacity for
the allocated emergency housing target of 1,242
beds. Guidance on updating development
regulations for emergency housing and shelter can
be found in the STEP Model Ordinance and User
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Guide. See Chapter 6 for model ordinance
language and Chapter 7 for demonstrating sufficient
land capacity for emergency housing targets.
• All limitations on supportive housing types such as
emergency housing (EH), emergency shelters (ES),
permanent supportive housing (PSH), and
transitional housing (TH) must allow the siting of a
sufficient number of units and beds necessary to
meet project needs. Housing Element Book 2, see
pages 41-48. Additionally, the zoning map must be
consistent with and implement the land use map
and land capacity findings. RCW 36.70A.115(1),
WAC 365-196-800.
Puget Sound Regional
Council (PSRC)
• The city should show capacity for housing
affordable to all income levels, including emergency
housing capacity. Commerce’s STEP guidance
provides further information.
King County • Recommendation 2: To align with CPPs H-1 and H-
11, Tukwila should show sufficient land capacity for
its allocated emergency housing needs. Tukwila
should follow Washington State Department of
Commerce’s guidance for completing an emergency
housing land capacity analysis.
Figure 2 below depicts, in a green color overlay, all Tukwila zoning districts in which
emergency shelters and emergency housing are permitted, consistent with allowances
for hotels. To demonstrate the approximate scale of the current half mile buffer from
STEP Housing types, religious institutions which would be permitted to offer certain
types of STEP Housing are shown with the corresponding half mile buffer to
demonstrate the potential buffer impact on siting a non-religiously affiliated STEP
Housing facility.
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Figure 2. STEP Housing, ½-Mile Buffer From Religious Facilities
While not exact, it quickly becomes visually apparent that maintaining a half -mile buffer,
or any buffer distance near this length, would not allow capacity for 1,242 emergency
housing beds or the 471 permanent supportive housing beds when coupled with a low
maximum occupancy per site of 45 or fewer.
For greater perspective on what buffer distances may be viable if buffering between
STEP Housing types were maintained, staff also created a map with buffer distances of
500 feet at religious facilities (Figure 3).
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Figure 3. STEP Housing, 500-Foot Buffer from Religious Facilities
To demonstrate the ability to meet emergency housing and permanent supportive
housing capacity, staff selected vacant and underdeveloped parcels within zoning
districts permitting these housing types, or on land owned or controlled by religious
organizations. Reasonable capacity sizes, and the associated buffer distances based
on occupancy were applied consistent with proposed standards. Figures 4 and 5 below
79
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demonstrate adequate capacity for emergency housing and permanent supportive
housing respectively.
Figure 4. Emergency Housing Capacity Example Capacity
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Figure 5. Permanent Supportive Housing Example Capacity
Beyond simply meeting the state law requirements for demonstrated capacity for STEP
Housing, updating STEP Housing regulations creates opportunities for STEP Housing
development to allow families and individuals that require support beyond what other
housing types typically offer, either on a temporary or permanent basis. As further
detailed in the Department of Commerce STEP Housing 101 Fact Sheet (attached), the
general scarcity of housing in the region and state, and associated high costs of
housing, further strains limited existing STEP Housing capacity. Building in state-81
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mandated flexibility for STEP Housing can help more broadly support overall community
housing needs, reduce calls for service, and ultimately reduce homelessness.
Figure 6. Excerpt from STEP 101 Fact Sheet
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
In the interest of meeting state law requirements to provide capacity to site the City’s
allotted amount of STEP Housing, while maintaining reasonable occupancy and spacing
requirements, staff proposes to amend TMC 18.50.250, 18.50.260 and Table 18-2
Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed by District as summarized below. Complete
redlines of proposed amendments can be found as attachments.
STEP Housing Type Buffer Distance
between Uses
Maximum
Occupants per
Housing Facility
Existing
Standards
Emergency Housing
& Emergency
Shelters
½ Mile (2,640 feet),
unless functional
travel distance is at
least ½ mile.
45 residents
Transitional Housing
& Permanent-
Supportive Housing
½ Mile (2,640 feet),
unless functional
travel distance is at
least ½ mile.
15 residents in LDR
zoning,
30 residents in
MDR zoning, and
45 residents in all
other permitted
zoning districts
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Proposed
Standards
Emergency Shelters 500-foot buffer from
other like facilities if
occupancy capacity
is for 50 persons or
greater
100 residents
Emergency Housing 500-foot buffer from
other like facilities if
occupancy capacity
is for 75 persons or
greater
100 residents
Transitional Housing
& Permanent
Supportive Housing
500-foot buffer from
other like facilities if
occupancy capacity
is for 50 persons or
greater
45 residents in LDR
and MDR zoning,
75 residents in all
other permitted
zoning districts
The following amendment of criteria in TMC 18.50.250(A)(6) is also proposed:
6. Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7,
with individual units only accessible through interior corridors.
The following amendment of criteria in TMC 18.50.260(A)(5) is also proposed:
5. Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7,
with individual units only accessible through interior corridors.
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Table 18-2 is proposed to be amended as follows:
Table 18-2 Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed by District
Business
license
P = Permitted, A = Accessory, C =
Conditional, UUP = Unclassified Use
Permit
For parking requirements see Table
18-5 or Figure 18-7
Regional
Center TOD
Pond
District
Commercial
Center
Work-
Place
Residential
320 Dormitories A A
Ref.
above†
Dwelling: Multi-family, Mixed Use,
Senior Citizen Housing P P P P4
510 Home Occupation A A A P4
270
Continuing Care Retirement
Community P P
STEP Housing
Emergency Housing P8 P8 P8
Emergency Shelter P8 P8 P8
Permanent Supportive Housing P9 P9 P9 P4, 9
Transitional Housing P9 P9 P9 P4, 9
8. Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.250 and 18.50.270.
9. Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.260 and 18.50.270.
Staff Report Criteria
TMC 18.82.030 requires that staff reports for proposed amendments to development
regulations address the five listed criteria in this section. As criteria pertain to both
privately initiated code amendment applications and those proposed by staff, some
criteria may not be as relevant for all code amendment proposals. Criteria and staff
responses are listed below.
1. An evaluation of the application materials;
Staff Response: Not applicable.
2. Impact upon the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code;
Staff Response: The proposed code amendment is consistent with the comprehensive
plan and does not require an amendment to the comprehensive plan. The proposed
amendment to the zoning code intends to bring the City into compliance with
requirements for capacity of STEP housing.
3. Impact upon surrounding properties, if applicable;
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Staff Response: Proposed code amendments seek to balance requirements for
providing adequate STEP housing capacity with preventing significant clustering of
STEP housing in one area of the City. RCW 35A.21.430 notes that spacing, occupancy
and intensity requirements must be based on protecting public health and safety.
4. Alternatives to the proposed amendment; and
Staff Response: Different variations of buffer distances and capacities were considered
in drafting proposed code amendments. As demonstrated in Figures 4 and 5, the 500-
foot buffer distance for facilities of a certain occupancy size is a middle ground between
the existing standards, which do not meet capacity requirements, and eliminating buffer
distance and occupancy maximums entirely.
5. Appropriate code citations and other relevant documents.
Staff Response: Text of RCW 35A.21.430 and a Department of Commerce STEP 101
fact sheet are included as attachments for further background on state requirements
and STEP housing.
Decision Criteria
TMC 18.82.020 “Decisions Criteria” provides criteria for the final City Council decision
on proposed code amendments.
Decision criteria are as follows:
1. Is the amendment consistent with the Comprehensive Plan?
2. Does the amendment meet at least one of the following criteria:
a. Eliminates conflicts between TMC and the Comprehensive Plan; or
b. Accomplishes policy directives of the Council or Administration; or
c. Corrects an error or errors in the TMC.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No direct costs to the City are expected from this code amendment.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is being asked to approve the ordinance and consider this item at the
March 24, 2025 Committee of the Whole and subsequent April 7, 2025 Regular meeting
ATTACHMENTS
A. Ordinance
B. Minutes from 1/23/2025 Planning Commission Public Hearing
C. Staff Report from 1/23/2025 Planning Commission Public Hearing
D. TMC 18.50 Proposed Code Amendments
E. Table 18-2: Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed by District Proposed Code
Amendments (Redlined)
F. RCW 35A.21.430, Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, indoor
emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters
G. Department of Commerce STEP 101 Fact Sheet 85
2025 Legislation: STEP Amendments Page 1 of 4
Version: 3/4/25
Staff: N. Tabor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2741
§3 (PART), AS CODIFIED AT TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE
(TMC) SECTIONS 18.50.250 AND 18.50.260; AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 2500 §13, AS CODIFIED AT TABLE 18-2; TO
UPDATE STEP HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS IN
COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, regulations which can be applied to emergency shelters, transitional
housing, emergency housing and permanent supportive housing (STEP Housing) are
dictated in RCW 35.21.683; and
WHEREAS, RCW 35.21.683 permits reasonable occupancy, spacing, and intensity of
use requirements to be applied to STEP Housing to protect public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, occupancy, spacing and intensity of use requirements may not prevent the
siting of a sufficient amount of STEP Housing; and
WHEREAS, requirements for the City to plan for capacity for 471 persons requiring
permanent supportive housing and 1,242 persons requiring emergency housing are
established in the King County Countywide Planning Policies; and
WHEREAS, there is a public benefit for the City to avoid clustering of larger STEP
Housing concentrations around a few areas of the City; and
WHEREAS, current buffer distance requirements and maximum occupancy for STEP
Housing types limits the City’s capacity far below capacity totals required in the King County
Countywide Planning Policies; and
WHEREAS, STEP Housing uses are not currently listed as allowed in several zoning
districts within the Tukwila Urban Centers, as required by RCW 35.21.683; and
WHEREAS, on January 23, 2025, the Tukwila Planning Commission, following
adequate public notice, held a public hearing to receive testimony concerning amending the
Attachment A
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Staff: N. Tabor
Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC), and at that meeting adopted a motion recommending the
proposed changes; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2025, the City’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
Responsible Official issued a Determination of Non-Significance on the proposed
amendments;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Adoption of Findings of Fact. The City Council finds as follows:
A. The above recitals, set forth as “WHEREAS” clauses, are hereby adopted as
Findings of Fact in support of the adoption of this ordinance.
B. The amendments that are established below comply with the requirements of the
Washington State Growth Management Act and the Tukwila Municipal Code.
Section 2. Ordinance No. 2741 §3 (part), as codified at TMC Section 18.50.250,
“Emergency Housing and Emergency Shelter Criteria,” is hereby amended to read as
follows:
18.50.250 Emergency Housing and Emergency Shelter Criteria
A. Emergency housing and emergency shelter facilities are allowed subject to the
following criteria:
1. It must be a 24-hour-a-day facility where beds or rooms are assigned to specific
residents for the duration of their stay.
2. On-site services such as laundry, hygiene, meals, case management, and
social programs are limited to the residents of the facility and not available for drop-in use
by non-residents.
3. The facility must be located within a half mile walking distance of a bus or rail
transit stop.
4.Facilities Emergency shelters with a capacity for 50 persons or greater, and
emergency housing facilities with a capacity for 75 persons or greater must be at least a
half mile500 feet from any other emergency housing or emergency shelter, calculated as
a radius from the property lines of the site. This distance may be reduced upon the
applicant submitting documentation that there is a barrier such as a river or freeway
preventing access between the facilities, and the path of travel between them on public
roads or trails is at least half a mile500 feet.
5. The maximum number of residents in a facility is limited to the general capacity
of the building but in no case more than 45100.
6.Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7,
with individual units only accessible through interior corridors ..
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Section 3. Ordinance No. 2741 §3 (part), as codified at TMC Section 18.50.260,
“Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing Criteria,” is hereby amended to
read as follows:
18.50.260 Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing Criteria
A. Permanent supportive housing and transitional housing facilities are allowed
subject to the following criteria:
1. On-site services such as laundry, hygiene, meals, case management, and
social programs are limited to the residents of the facility and not available for drop-in use
by non-residents.
2. The facility must be located within a half mile walking distance of a bus or rail
transit stop.
3. Facilities with a capacity of 50 persons or greater must be at least a half mile500
feet from any other permanent supportive housing or transitional housing, calculated as
a radius from the property lines of the site. This distance may be reduced upon the
applicant submitting documentation that there is a barrier such as a river or freeway
preventing access between the facilities, and the path of travel between them on public
roads or trails is at least half a mile500 feet.
4. The maximum number of residents in a facility is limited to the general capacity
of the building but in no case more than 15 45 in LDR and, 30 in MDR, and 45 75 in HDR
or other zones.
5. Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7,
with individual units only accessible through interior corridors ..
Section 4. Ordinance No. 2500 §13, as codified at Table 18-2, “Tukwila Urban Center
Land Uses Allowed By District,” is hereby amended to read as referenced in Exhibit A.
Section 5. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser Authorized. Upon approval
of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are authorized to make necessary
corrections to this ordinance, including the correction of clerical errors; references to other
local, state or federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations; or ordinance numbering and
section/subsection numbering.
Section 6. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to be
invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the
remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to any other person or situation.
Section 7. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published
in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five days
after passage and publication as provided by law.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this _______ day of ___________________, 2025.
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ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Andy Youn-Barnett, CMC, City Clerk Thomas McLeod, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Published:
Effective Date:
Ordinance Number:
Office of the City Attorney
Exhibit A: Table 18-2, “Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed by District”
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Table 18-2: Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed By District**
Business
license
P = Permitted, A = Accessory, C = Conditional, UUP = Unclassified Use
Permit
For parking requirements see Table 18-5 or Figure 18-7
Regional Center TOD Pond District Commercial Corridor Work-Place
Retail1
60 Animal Kennels and Shelters, including doggy daycare C C
810A Athletic or Health Clubs P P P P P
90 Automotive Service and Repair P2 P
400 Banks, Financial, Insurance, and Real Estate Services P P P
1030 Bar & Nightclubs P P3 P P
Ref. above† Brew Pubs, On-Site Brewing, Cocktail Lounges, & Pool Halls P P P P
Bulk Retail P P P
Business Services (e.g. copying, fax and mailing centers) P P P P
Ref. above† Drive Through Facilities or Services P P3 P P
360A Electric Vehicle Charging Station L1&2 P P P P P
360B Electric Vehicle Charging State L3 A P3 A A A
90 Gas Stations, including Car Wash P3 P P
General Retail P P P P P
Ref. above† Laundries, Tailors, and Dry Cleaners P P P P P
Ref. above† Personal Services (e.g. beauty & barber shops, nail salons, spa, travel
agencies) P P P P
Ref. above† Recreation Facilities (commercial indoor)P P P P
810C Recreation Facilities (commercial outdoor) P
Ref. above† Repair Shops (small scale goods: bicycle, appliance, shoe, computer) P P P P
Ref. above† Restaurants with associated cocktail lounges and sidewalk cafes P P P P P6
Ref. above† Theaters except adult entertainment P P P
840 Vehicle Rental and Sales (not requiring a commercial DL) P P3 P5 P
70 Veterinary Clinic with temporary indoor boarding and grooming P P P P P
Office
Professional, Outpatient Medical, Dental, Governmental Services, and
Research P P P P P
630 Medical and Dental Laboratories P P P P
Lodging
Ref. above† Hotel, Motel, Extended Stay, Bed and Breakfasts P P P
Civic & Institutional
290 Convention & Exhibition Facilities, including multipurpose arena facilities P P3 P
Ref. above† Cultural Facilities, including: libraries, museums, art galleries, performing
arts centers
P P P
Ref. above† Daycare Centers P P P P P
Ref. above† Education and Instructional Facilities, public and private including college
and universities
P P P
Ref. above† Parks, Trails, Picnic Areas, Playgrounds, and Public Community Centers P P P P P
410 Police and Fire Stations C C C P P
Adopted 2016 - Ordinance No. 2500
9
0
DR
A
F
T
Business
license
P = Permitted, A = Accessory, C = Conditional, UUP = Unclassified Use
Permit
For parking requirements see Table 18-5 or Figure 18-7
Regional Center
TOD
Pond District
Commercial Corridor
Work-Place
Post Office P P P
820B Religious Institutions, greater than 750 sf assembly area C C C C C
820A Religious Institutions, less than 750 sf assembly area P P P P P
Industrial, Manufacturing, & Warehouse
190 Cargo Containers subject to TMC 18.50.060 A
550 Industrial Commercial Services (e.g. etching, film processing, lithography,
printing & publishing)
P
Ref. above†
Light Industrial: Manufacturing, Processing and Assembling uses that have
little potential for creating off-site noise, smoke, dust, vibration or other
external impacts or pollution. Manufacturing and processing of food and
beverages including fermenting and distilling; with or without a tasting
room, provided the tasting room occupies less than 50% of the total area of
the building occupied by the tenant but no more than 3500 square feet;
and the manufacturing process does not cause off-site impacts to
neighboring properties or create a public nuisance.
P
990A/B Outdoor storage of materials to be manufactured or handled as part of a
permitted use within the Zone, screened pursuant TMC 18.52
A
960 Self-Storage Facilities P
1110 Warehouse Storage and Wholesale Distribution Facilities P
Transportation, Communication, & Infrastructure
240 Commercial Parking , day use only P P P P P
370 Essential Public Facilities, except those listed separately UUP UUP UUP UUP UUP
Intermodal Transit Stations, Rail transit facilities UUP UUP UUP UUP UUP
Ref. above† Internet Data Centers & Telephone Exchanges P
7100 Park and Ride Lots UUP UUP UUP UUP
720 Parking Areas A A A A A
Public Transit Facilities and Stations (Bus) P P P P P
780 Radio, Television, Microwave, or Observation Stations and Towers C C C C C
Ref. above† Utility Facilities, above ground/ not in ROW C C C C P
Ref. above† Utility Facilities, underground/in ROW P P P P P
1140 Wireless Communication Facilities P7 P7 P7 P7 P7
Residential
320 Dormitories A A
Ref. above† Dwelling: Multi-family, Townhouses, Mixed Use, Senior Citizen Housing P P P P4
510 Home Occupation A A A P4
270 Continuing Care Retirement Community P P
STEP Housing
Emergency Housing P8 P8 P8
Emergency Shelter P8 P8 P8
Permanent Supportive Housing P9 P9 P9 P4, 9
Transitional Housing P9 P9 P9 P4, 9
9
1
DR
A
F
T
† Reference the above general zoning code use matrix for specific business license code.
** See TMC 18.28.260 for District specific parking standards.
1.Minimum interior height for ground level retail of all types is 18 feet from floor to floor plate. Use conversions in existing buildings are not required to meet this standard.
2.New businesses are limited to locations within the Freeway Frontage Corridor. See additional design standards in the Southcenter Design Manual.
3.East of the Green River only.
4.Only on properties fronting the Green River or Minkler Pond.
5.Excludes vehicle storage or maintenance.
6.3,500 sf max per use.
7.Subject to TMC 18.58.
8.Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.250 and TMC 18.50.270.
9.Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.260 and TMC 18.50.270.
7.
9
2
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
Date:
Time:
•Department of Community Development -Nora Gier/off, AICP, Director
CITY OF TUKWILA
PLANNING COMMISSION (PC)
MINUTES
January 23, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Location: Hybrid Meeting -via Microsoft Teams I Public, In-Person Attendance,
Council Chambers, 6200 Southcenter Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98188
I.Call to Order
Chair Probst called the Tukwila PC meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
11.Roll Call
Present:
The PC Secretary took roll call.
Chair Martin Probst; Vice Chair Ann Durant; Commissioners Louise Strander, Alex Kaehler, Richard McLeland Wieser, and Jacob Halverson
Excused Absence: Commissioner Jane Ho
Staff: Director Nora Gierloff, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Department of Community Development (DCD); Long Range Planning Manager Nancy Eklund, AICP, DCD; Development Supervisor Max Baker, AICP, DCD; Senior Planner Neil Tabor, AICP, DCD; and PC Secretary Wynetta Bivens, DCD
III.Amendment of the Agenda
No changes to the agenda were requested.
IV.Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Halverson moved to adopt the 12/12/24 Minutes. Commissioner Durantseconded the motion. Commissioner Kaehler recused himself due to absence. Motioncarried.
V.Written General Public Comments
No submittals.
VI.Old Business
None
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 •206-433-1800 •Website: Tukwila WA.gov
1
Attachment B
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VII.New Business
PUBLICHEARING
1.Shelter, Transitional, Emergency, Permanent (STEP) HousingChanges
FILE NUMBER:L24-0026, E25-0001
PURPOSE:Codeamendment tocomplywithstate law.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction/Citywide
SeniorPlannerNeilTaborgavethepresentationforstaff. HeprovidedbackgroundonSTEPHousing
andthe purposeofthepublichearing.Hesaidthatlegislature narrowedrestrictions fortheSTEP
Housingtypes, whichresulted intheallocationofcertainhousing targets. TheCityofTukwila
previouslyadoptedcodeamendmentstorecognizetheSTEPHousingtypes. In2021,theState
legislaturepassedHB1220whichsetsrequirementsforSTEPHousing. Thefollowinghousingtypesare
notincluded:
RestrictedHousing
StaffnotedthattheState, PugetSoundRegionalCouncil, andCountywideKingCountyeach
development regulationsdonotmeetrequirements. Staffwentoverthe
proposedstandardsandwalkedthroughtheSTEPhousingrequirementsinwhichtheCityofTukwilais
notincompliance.
whilemaintainingreasonableoccupancyandspacingrequirements, staffproposetoamend TMC
18.50.250, 18.50.260andTable18-2TukwilaUrbanCenter (TUC) LandUsesAllowedbyDistrict
Staffaddressedclarifyingquestions fromthePC.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommissionforwardarecommendation foradoptionofthedraft
codeamendmentstotheCityCouncil (CC) fortheirreview.
PublicHearing
ChairProbstopenedthepublichearing.
Staffnotedthattherewerenopublichearingcomments lettersreceived.
Therewasnopublictestimony.
ChairProbstclosedthepublichearing.
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Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
theirreview. CommissionerDurantsecondedthemotion. Motioncarried.
PUBLICHEARING
2.PhasedBinding SiteImprovementPlans (BSIP)
FILE NUMBER:L25-0001, E25-0002
PURPOSE:Codeamendment to removedevelopment agreement requirement.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction/Citywide
SeniorPlannerNeilTabor gavethepresentation forstaff. Heprovidedbackground ontheproposed.
BSIPsareplansusedtoprovide flexibility forsaleofproperty withinalargerdevelopment. These
developments oftenrelyonsharedfeatureswithin thelarger site, suchas: Parking; access points;
landscaping; utilities; refuse collection areas; etc. PhasedBSIPsimprovement plansandproposals to
developinphases arerequired toenter intoadevelopment agreement inadditiontocompletingthe
BSIP.
Therequirementforphased BSIPstoexecuteadevelopment agreementislisted intheTukwila
MunicipalCode (TMC) 17.16.030(C) Preliminary BindingSiteImprovementPlan (BSIP) approval,
approvalCriteria.
Staffproposed removing thesoleprovisionrequiringtheexecutionofadevelopmentagreementwith
phasedBSIPs. Referencesrequiringconsistency withapprovalsandoptionstoapplyconditionsand
limitationsforphasedBSIPsarealreadypresentinothersectionsofTMC17.16andthroughout the
TMC.
StaffaddressedclarifyingquestionsfromthePC.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommissionforwardarecommendation fortheadoptionofthe
draftcodeamendmentstotheCCfortheirreview.
PublicHearing
ApublichearingcommentletterwasreceivedfromSamPace, HousingSpecialist.
SeattleKingCountyREALTORS, onJanuary22, 2025, whichwasdistributedtothePConJanuary22,
2025.
Chair Probstopenedthepublichearing.
Therewasnopublictestimony.
Chair Probst closedthepublichearing.
Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
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Commissioner Durantmovedtoadopt recommendationsandforwardittotheCCfortheir
review. Commissioner McLelandWiesersecondedthemotion. Motioncarried.
PUBLICHEARING
3.TownhousesintheTUC
FILENUMBER:L25-0003, E25-0004
PURPOSE:Codeamendmenttoupdateresidentialallowances.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction/Citywide
SeniorPlannerNeilTaborgavethepresentationforstaff. Heprovidedbackgroundontheproposed. He
statedthisitemisontownhouseallowancesintheTUC, whichisaregionalcenterdesignatedwiththe
PugetSoundRegionalCouncil forfuturegrowth, capitalizingontransitinfrastructure toreducecar
dependency. ThiscenterdesignationundertheRegionalGrowthStrategymakesthisareaeligiblefor
additional fundingthathelpsthemtransitionintodenser, transit-orienteddevelopmentovertime. It
coversPierce, Snohomish, King, andKitsapCounties. Withinthesecounties,centerscanbedesignated
wherehighcapacitytransitexists,encouragingthe greateruseofpublictransportation.
Partoftherequirementforacenteristhatitplans
Staffproposesremovingtownhousesfromthelistofalloweddwellingtypesintable18-2, affectingthe
TUCRegionalCenter, TransitOrientedDevelopment,PondandportionsoftheWorkPlaceZoning
Districts.
Staffarerequesting thatthePCforwardarecommendationfortheadoptionoftheproposedredlined
languagetotheCCfortheirfurtherreviewandadoption.
Staffaddressedclarifyingquestions fromthePC.
Commissioner Halversonstatedthathewouldproposeanamendment, statingheisagainstremoving
townhomesfromtheuseintheTUC.
CommissionerDurantstateditwasmentionedinthestaffbackgroundreportthatregional growth
strategydesignationmakestheareaeligibleforadditionalfunding. Sheaskediftownhomesarenot
unitswhethertheCityofTukwilawouldbe
ineligibleforthefundingorwoulditbelessaccessible tothecity. Shesaidthechangemakessenseto
her. Mr. Taborstatedindividualuseallowanceswouldbeunlikelytoeliminatefundingeligibility, but
regulationsshouldbeconsistentwithgoalsforthecenter.
CommissionerHalverson inquiredwhetherthereisanyconcepttobuildsmalltownhouse-style
residential.
Staffsaidtheyidentifiedthisassomething thatisinconsistent withtheoverallgoals, whichiswhythey
areproposingit.
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Staffproposesremovingtownhousesfromthelistofalloweddwellingtypesintable18-2, affectingthe
Tukwila UrbanCenter (TUC) Regional Center, TransitOriented Development, Pondandportionsofthe
WorkPlaceZoning Districts.
Therewasextensivediscussion aroundthissubject.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommission forwardarecommendationfortheadoptionofthe
draftcodeamendments totheCCfortheirreview.
PublicHearing
Chair Probst opened thepublichearing
Staffnoted thatthere werenopublic hearingcommentslettersreceived.
Therewasno public testimony
ChairProbstclosedthepublichearing
Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
accessoryuseintheTukwilaUrban Centerinsteadofstriking them. CommissionerStrander seconded
themotion. There wasasplitdecision.
Commissioner Halversonmoved toforwardthesplitrecommendationtotheCCfor theirreview.
Commissioner Standersecondedthemotion. Motioncarried.
Staffaskedforclarification on howthePCwould liketoformatthe suggested amendmenttochange
Townhouses toanaccessory use. ThePCdeferredthedecisionto staff.
PUBLICHEARING
4.ResidentialConversions
FILENUMBER:L25-0002, E25-0003
PURPOSE:Codeamendment tocomply withchangesinstatelaw.
LOCATION:Non-ProjectAction
SeniorPlannerNeilTaborgavethepresentationforstaff. Heprovidedbackgroundontheproposed
amendment. Hestatedthatin the2023legislativesession, HB1042passedandbroadenedallowances
forconversionsofnon-residential toresidential spaces.PertheMunicipalResearchandServicesCenter
MRSC) hewentoverseveral ofthekeyprovisions oftherequirements. Hesaidtheintentwiththiscode
amendmentistoprovideconsistencywiththestatelaw. Also, toprovidefutureallowancesthatthecity
canstillmaintaingroundfloor commercial space thatisrequired innewuse developmentandidentified
areas.
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Intheinterestinpreservingtheability tomaintaingroundfloorcommercialspacestaffproposetoadopt
amajorpedestriancorridor along TukwilaInternationalBoulevard (TIB).
Staffproposed adoptinganewcodesectionwithintheTukwilaMunicipalCode (TMC). TMC18.50.230
forResidentialConversion.
Staffaddressedclarifyingquestions fromthePC.
Recommendation
StaffarerequestingthatthePlanningCommissionforwardarecommendationfortheadoptionofthe
draftcodeamendmentstotheCCfortheirreview.
PublicHearing
Chair Probstopenedthepublichearing.
Staffnoted thatthere werenopublichearingcommentslettersreceived.
Therewasnopublictestimony.
Chair Probst closedthepublichearing.
Deliberations/Motion
Therewasnodeliberation.
amendments andforwardthemtothePCfor theirreview. Commissioner Durantsecondedthemotion.
Commissioner Halverson abstained. Motioncarried.
VIII.
Comingup: (maymeetmore thanoncea monthsomemonths)
February -Additional Middle Housing (MH) presentationanddiscussion. Reviewofmapping
anddensitystandards. Introtodesign androadstandards.
March -PublicHearing #1onMH, focusingongeneral development regulations andconsistency.
April -PublicHearing #2onMHfocusing onobjective design standards androadstandards.
MovethefullpackagetotheCityCouncil, aimingforadoption bytheendofJune.
QuickQuack Carwashhasreceiveddesign reviewapproval.Nowtheyareworking onsomeother
issues.
IX.Adjournment
Commissioner McLeland Wiesermovedtoadjourn.Commissioner. Durant seconded themotion.
Adjournedat:7:59 p.m.
Submittedby:WynettaBivens
PCSecretary
698
City of Tukwila
Thomas McLeod, Mayor
STAFF REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Prepared January 14, 2025
HEARING DATE: January 23, 2025
FILE NUMBERS: L24-0026
E25-0001
APPPLICANT: City of Tukwila
REQUEST: Code amendment proposal to amend regulations for
STEP Housing to comply with state requirements
LOCATION: Policies apply throughout the City of Tukwila
NOTIFICATION: Hearing Notice was published in the Seattle Times on
January 9, 2025, and posted on the City of Tukwila
website on January 9, 2025.
SEPA DETERMINATION: An environmental determination will be issued prior to
City Council consideration.
STAFF: Neil Tabor, AICP, Senior Planner
BACKGROUND
In 2021 the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1220: Supporting emergency
shelters and housing through local planning and development regulations . Amongst
other provisions, the legislation narrowed restrictions jurisdictions could place on the
siting of emergency shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing and permanent-
supportive housing, subsequently termed “STEP Housing.” STEP Housing types are
defined as in RCW 36.70A.030 and RCW 84.36.043.
•"Emergency shelter" means a facility that provides a temporary shelter for
individuals or families who are currently homeless. Emergency shelter may not
require occupants to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement. Emergency
shelter facilities may include day and warming centers that do not provide
overnight accommodations.
•"Transitional housing" means a project that provides housing and supportive
services to homeless persons or families for up to two years and that has as its
purpose facilitating the movement of homeless persons and families into
independent living.
•"Emergency housing" means temporary indoor accommodations for individuals or
families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless that is
Attachment C
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intended to address the basic health, food, clothing, and personal hygiene needs
of individuals or families. Emergency housing may or may not require occupants
to enter into a lease or an occupancy agreement.
•"Permanent supportive housing" is subsidized, leased housing with no limit on
length of stay that prioritizes people who need comprehensive support services
to retain tenancy and utilizes admissions practices designed to use lower barriers
to entry than would be typical for other subsidized or unsubsidized rental
housing, especially related to rental history, criminal history, and personal
behaviors. Permanent supportive housing is paired with on-site or off-site
voluntary services designed to support a person living with a complex and
disabling behavioral health or physical health condition who was experiencing
homelessness or was at imminent risk of homelessness prior to moving into
housing to retain their housing and be a successful tenant in a housing
arrangement, improve the resident's health status, and connect the resident of
the housing with community-based health care, treatment, or employment
services. Permanent supportive housing is subject to all of the rights and
responsibilities defined in chapter 59.18 RCW.
While various STEP Housing types may be similar to other housing types, STEP
Housing does not include:
•Temporary Encampments
•Tiny Home Villages
•Group Homes
•Oxford Homes/Recovery Residence
•Assisted Living Facility
•Adult Family Homes
•Senior Living
•Traditional Income-Restricted Housing
HB 1220 became effective on July 25, 2021. Accordingly, to ensure alignment with the
statute, the City adopted regulations regarding STEP Housing via Ordinance No. 2658.
At that time, the Department of Commerce had not yet published guidance regarding
the implementation of HB 1220 nor had King Co unty and the State Office of Financial
Management published the allocation number of beds per STEP Housing typology that
each jurisdiction was required to accommodate.
Commerce has since published STEP Housing guidance and the County has published
the City’s housing targets, which include STEP housing targets for permanent-
supportive housing and emergency housing. Tukwila’s Housing targets, established for
the 2024-2044 planning period, include the need to demonstrate capacity for 471
persons requiring permanent-supportive housing and 1,242 persons requiring
emergency housing. Housing targets can be see in Figure 1.
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Figure 1: Tukwila Housing Targets
HB 1220 was codified as RCW 35A.21.430, which states that cities are required to allow
(1) transitional housing and permanent supportive housing in all zones that allow for
residential dwelling units and hotels, and (2) indoor emergency shelters and indoor
emergency housing in any zones that allow for hotels. Compliance with these use
allowances was integrated into the Tukwila Municipal Code in 2021 through Ordinance
2658, with the exception of select zoning districts within the Tukwila Urban Center.
RCW 35A.21.430 also states that:
“Reasonable occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use requirements may be
imposed by ordinance on permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor
emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters to protect public health and safety.
Any such requirements on occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use may not prevent
the siting of a sufficient number of permanent supportive housing, transitional
housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor emergency shelters necessary to
accommodate each code city's projected need for such housing and shelter under
RCW 36.70A.070(2)(a)(ii).”
Presently, TMC 18.50.250 and TMC 18.50.260 restrict STEP Housing through buffer
distances between like facilities, and maximum residents per facility as shown in Table
1.Other provisions of TMC 18.50.250-270 also list site features and services required at
STEP Housing types and operational plans and features required to ensure functional
facilities providing for the resident’s needs and minimizing impacts on areas surrounding
STEP Housing.
In addition to use allowances shown in Table 1, religious organizations are also
permitted to host permitted Emergency Housing and Emergency Shelters within
religious facilities, even if not within a zone which would be required to permit these
housing types (RCW 35A.21.360).
Table 1: Current STEP Buffering and Occupancy Restrictions
STEP Housing
Type
Buffer Distance
between Uses
Maximum
Occupants per
Housing Facility
Permitted in Zoning
Districts Which
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Emergency
Housing &
Emergency
Shelters
½ Mile (2,640
feet), unless
functional travel
distance is at
least ½ mile.
45 residents Allow Hotels
Transitional
Housing &
Permanent-
Supportive
Housing
½ Mile (2,640
feet), unless
functional travel
distance is at
least ½ mile.
15 residents in
LDR zoning,
30 residents in
MDR zoning,
and 45
residents in all
other permitted
zoning districts
Allow Hotels or
Residential Dwellings
FINDINGS & DISCUSSION
The present combination of buffer distance and maximum occupancy restrictions for
STEP Housing types does not comply with the requirement in RCW 35A.21.430 that
“occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use requirements” not “prevent the siting of a
sufficient number of” STEP Housing capacity “to accommodate each code city's
projected need.”
The recent update of the Comprehensive Plan also required that the housing element of
the Comprehensive Plan “Identifies sufficient capacity of land for housing including” …
“emergency housing, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing ” (RCW
36.70A.070, RCW 35.21.915). While the housing element within the Comprehensive
Plan adopted policies to comply with STEP Housing requirements in policies H2.4 and
H2.5, development regulations causing lack of capacity for these housing types were
identified as noncompliant by all review agencies, as shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Comprehensive Plan review comments regarding STEP Housing
Review Agency Comments regarding STEP Housing
Department of Commerce •The city identified that current zoning does not
allow sufficient capacity to accommodate
emergency housing needs. Updates to
development regulations that create sufficient
capacity for emergency housing should help the
city achieve this requirement. We strongly
recommend documenting any planned updates
to create sufficient capacity for the allocated
emergency housing target of 1,242 beds.
Guidance on updating development regulations
for emergency housing and shelter can be found
in the STEP Model Ordinance and User Guide.
See Chapter 6 for model ordinance language and
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Chapter 7 for demonstrating sufficient land
capacity for emergency housing targets.
• All limitations on supportive housing types such as
emergency housing (EH), emergency shelters
(ES), permanent supportive housing (PSH), and
transitional housing (TH) must allow the siting of
a sufficient number of units and beds necessary
to meet project needs. Housing Element Book 2,
see pages 41-48. Additionally, the zoning map
must be consistent with and implement the land
use map and land capacity findings. RCW
36.70A.115(1), WAC 365-196-800.
Puget Sound Regional
Council (PSRC)
• The city should show capacity for housing
affordable to all income levels, including
emergency housing capacity. Commerce’s STEP
guidance provides further information.
King County • Recommendation 2: To align with CPPs H-1 and
H-11, Tukwila should show sufficient land
capacity for its allocated emergency housing
needs. Tukwila should follow Washington State
Department of Commerce’s guidance for
completing an emergency housing land capacity
analysis.
Figure 2 below depicts all Tukwila zoning districts in which emergency shelters and
emergency housing is permitted, consistent with allowances for hotels, in a green color
overlay. To demonstrate the approximate scale of the current half mile buffer from
STEP Housing types, religious institutions which would be permitted to offer certain
types of STEP Housing are shown with the corresponding half mile buffer to
demonstrate the potential buffer impact on siting a non-religiously affiliated STEP
Housing facility.
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Figure 2. STEP Housing, 1/2 Mile Buffer From Religious Facilities
While not exact, it quickly becomes visually apparent that maintaining a half mile buffer,
or any buffer distance near this length, would not allow capacity for 1,242 emergency
housing beds or the 471 permanent-supportive housing beds when coupled with a low
maximum occupancy per site of 45 or fewer. For reference, the City of Burien adopted
an update of their STEP Housing regulations in the Fall of 2024 through Ordinance 850
(Figure 3, attached in whole) which placed no such separation buffers on permanent-
supporting housing and transitional housing. Separation buffers were only required for
emergency shelters and emergency housing facilities with a capacity for 200 residents
or greater, from other like facilities with capacity for at least 200 residents. Buffer
distances were established at 1,000 feet for emergency shelters at or exceeding that
capacity, and 500 feet for emergency housing at or exceeding that capacity (see Figure
3). For greater perspective on what buffer distances may be viable if buffering between
STEP Housing types were maintained, staff also created maps with buffer distances at
religious facilities of 1,000 feet and 500 feet, depicted in Figure 3 and Figure 4
respectively.
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Figure 3. City of Burien STEP spacing requirements
Figure 4. STEP Housing, 1,000 Foot Buffer From Religious Facilities
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Figure 5. STEP Housing, 500 Foot Buffer From Religious Facilities
Beyond simply meeting the state law requirements for demonstrated capacity for STEP
Housing, updating STEP Housing regulations creates opportunities for STEP Housing
development to allow families and individuals requiring support beyond what other
housing types typically offer, either on a temporary or permanent basis. As further
detailed in the Department of Commerce STEP Housing 101 Fact Sheet (attached), the
general scarcity of housing in the region and state, and associated high costs of
housing further strains limited existing STEP Housing capacity. Building in state
mandated flexibility for STEP Housing can help more broadly support overall community
housing needs, reduce calls for service and ultimately reduce homelessness.
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Figure 6. Excerpt from STEP 101 Fact Sheet
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
In the interest of meeting state law requirements to provide capacity to site the City’s
allotted amount of STEP Housing, while maintaining reasonable occupancy and spacing
requirements, staff proposes to amend TMC 18.50.250, 18.50.260 and Table 18-2
Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed by District as summarized below. Complete
redlines of proposed amendments can be found as attachments.
STEP Housing Type Buffer Distance
between Uses
Maximum
Occupants per
Housing Facility
Existing
Standards
Emergency Housing
& Emergency
Shelters
½ Mile (2,640 feet),
unless functional
travel distance is at
least ½ mile.
45 residents
Transitional Housing
& Permanent-
Supportive Housing
½ Mile (2,640 feet),
unless functional
travel distance is at
least ½ mile.
15 residents in LDR
zoning,
30 residents in
MDR zoning, and
45 residents in all
other permitted
zoning districts
Proposed
Standards
Emergency Shelters 500 foot buffer from
other like facilities if
occupancy capacity
is for 50 persons or
greater
100 residents
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Emergency Housing 500 foot buffer from
other like facilities if
occupancy capacity
is for 75 persons or
greater
100 residents
Transitional Housing
& Permanent-
Supportive Housing
500 foot buffer from
other like facilities if
occupancy capacity
is for 50 persons or
greater
45 residents in LDR
and MDR zoning,
75 residents in all
other permitted
zoning districts
The following amendment of criteria in TMC 18.50.250(6) is also proposed:
6.Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7., with
individual units only accessible through interior corridors.
The following amendment of criteria in TMC 18.50.260(5) is also proposed:
5.Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7.,
with individual units only accessible through interior corridors.
Table 18-2 Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed by District
Business
license
P = Permitted, A = Accessory, C =
Conditional, UUP = Unclassified Use
Permit
For parking requirements see Table 18-5
or Figure 18-7
Regional
Center TOD
Pond
District
Commercial
Center
Work-
Place
Residential
320 Dormitories A A
Ref.
above†
Dwelling: Multi-family, Mixed Use, Senior
Citizen Housing P P P P4
510 Home Occupation A A A P4
270 Continuing Care Retirement Community P P
STEP Housing
Emergency Housing P8 P8 P8
Emergency Shelter P8 P8 P8
Permanent Supportive Housing P9 P9 P9 P4, 9
Transitional Housing P9 P9 P9 P4, 9
8.Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.250 and 18.50.270.
9.Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.260 and 18.50.270.
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REQUESTED ACTION
Staff is requesting that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation for
adoption of the draft code amendments to the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS
A.TMC 18.50 Proposed Code Amendments (Redlined)
B.Table 18-2: Tukwila Urban Center Land Uses Allowed by District Proposed Code
Amendments (Redlined)
C.RCW 35A.21.430
D.Department of Commerce STEP 101 Fact Sheet
E.City of Burien Ordinance 850
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CHAPTER 18.50
SUPPLEMENTAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Sections:
18.50.010 Purpose
18.50.020 Special Height Limitation Areas
18.50.030 Special Height Exception Areas
18.50.045 Height Regulations Around Major Airports
18.50.050 Single-Family Dwelling Design Standards
18.50.055 Single-Family Design Standard Exceptions
18.50.060 Cargo Containers as Accessory Structures
18.50.070 Yard Regulations
18.50.080 Exemption of Rooftop Appurtenances
18.50.083 Maximum Building Length
18.50.085 Maximum Percent Development Area Coverage
18.50.090 Height Limitation for Amusement Devices
18.50.110 Archaeological/Paleontological Information Preservation
Requirements
18.50.130 Structures Over Public R-O-W
18.50.140 Charging Station Locations
18.50.150 Retaining Wall Setback Waiver
18.50.170 Lighting Standards
18.50.180 Recycling Storage Space for Residential Uses
18.50.185 Recycling Storage Space for Non-Residential Uses
18.50.190 Design of Collection Points for Garbage and Recycling Containers
18.50.200 Peer Review of Technical Studies
18.50.210 Marijuana Related Uses
18.50.220 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standards
18.50.240 Home Occupations
18.50.250 Emergency Housing and Emergency Shelter Criteria
18.50.260 Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing Criteria
18.50.270 Memorandum of Agreement for Emergency Housing, Emergency Shelter,
Permanent Supportive Housing or Transitional Housing
18.50.010 Purpose
A.It is the purpose of this chapter to establish development standards that supplement
those established within the various use districts. These supplemental standards are intended to
address certain unique situations that may cross district boundaries, and to implement related
policies of the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan.
18.50.020 Special Height Limitation Areas
A.There are hereby established special height limitation areas, as depicted by Figure 18-
3.
18.50.030 Special Height Exception Areas
A.There are hereby established special height exception areas as depicted by Figure 18-
3, within which building heights of up to four, six, or ten stories, as illustrated by the Figure, are
allowed, notwithstanding the height standards for zoning districts within which the subject property
may lie.
Attachment D
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18.50.045 Height Regulations Around Major Airports
A. For the purposes of regulating heights within the vicinity of major airports, there are
established and created certain height limitation zones which include all the land lying within the
instrument approach zones, non-instrument approach zones, transition zones, horizontal zones
and conical zones. Such areas may be shown and defined on an “airport height map” which shall
become a part of the ordinance codified in this section by adoption of the Council and found on
file in the office of the City Clerk. No building or structure shall be erected, altered or maintained,
nor shall any tree be allowed to grow to a height in excess of the height limit herein established
in any of the several zones created by this section; provided, however, that this provision shall
not prohibit the construction of or alteration of a building or structure to a height of 35 feet above
the average finish grade of the lot. Where an area is covered by more than one height limitation
zone, the more restrictive limitations shall prevail. Under the provision of this section, the City
adopts the following airport height map: Airport Height Map: King County International Airport
(Boeing Field), August 1, 1986, and as the same may be amended.
18.50.050 Single-Family Dwelling Design Standards
A. All new single-family dwellings, as well as accessory dwelling units and other accessory
structures that require a building permit, must:
1. Be set upon a permanent concrete perimeter foundation, with the space from the bottom
of the home to the ground enclosed by concrete or an approved concrete product that can be
either load bearing or decorative.
2. If a manufactured home, be comprised of at least two fully-enclosed parallel sections,
each of not less than 12 feet wide by 36 feet long.
3. Be thermally equivalent to the current edition of the Washington State Energy Code with
amendments.
4. Have exterior siding that is residential in appearance including, but not limited to, wood
clapboards, shingles or shakes, brick, conventional vinyl siding, fiber-cement siding, wood-
composite panels, aluminum siding or similar materials. Materials such as smooth, ribbed or
corrugated metal or plastic panels are not acceptable.
5. Have the front door facing the front or second front yard, if the lot is at least 40 feet wide.
This requirement does not apply to ADUs or accessory structures.
6. Have a roofing material that is residential in appearance including, but not limited to,
wood shakes or shingles, standing seam metal, asphalt composition shingles or tile.
18.50.055 Single-Family Design Standard Exceptions
A. The design standards required in TMC 18.50.050 (4), (5) and (6) may be modified by
the Director as part of the building permit approval process.
1. The criteria for approval of use of unconventional exterior siding are as follows:
a. The structure exhibits a high degree of design quality, including a mix of exterior
materials, detailing, articulation and modulation; and
b. The proposed siding material is durable with an expected life span similar to the
structure; and
c. The siding material enhances a unique architectural design.
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2.The criteria for approval of a house with a front door that faces the side or rear yard are
as follows:
a.The topography of the lot is such that pedestrian access is safer or more
convenient from the side or rear yard;
b.The entrance is oriented to take advantage of a site condition such as a significant
view; or
c.The entry feature is integral to a unique architectural design.
B.The design standards required in TMC 18.50.050 (5) and (6) may also be modified by
the Director as part of the building permit approval process if the proposal includes a replacement
of a single wide manufactured home with a double wide and newer manufactured home. The
property owner can apply for this waiver only one time per property starting from the date of
adoption of this ordinance. Additionally, the proposal should result in aesthetic improvement to
the neighborhood.
C.The design standards required in TMC 18.50.220.A (4) may be modified by the Director
as part of the building permit approval process. The design of an attached ADU that does not
reflect the design vocabulary of the existing primary residence may be approved if the new portion
of the structure exhibits a high degree of design quality, including a mix of durable exterior
materials, detailing, articulation and modulation.
18.50.060 Cargo Containers as Accessory Structures
A.Cargo containers are allowed outright in the LI, HI, MIC/L, MIC/H and TVS zones,
subject to building setbacks.
B.New containers may be allowed as accessory structures in LDR, MDR, and HDR for
institutional uses, and in RC, RCM, TUC, TSO and C/LI for any permitted or conditional use. All
new containers are subject to a Type 2 special permission decision and the restrictions in the
various zoning districts.
C.Criteria for approval are as follows:
1.Only two cargo containers will be allowed per lot, maximum length of 40 feet.
2.The container is located to minimize the visual impact to adjacent properties, parks, trails
and rights-of-way as determined by the Director.
3.The cargo container is sufficiently screened from adjacent properties, parks, trails and
rights-of-way, as determined by the Director. Screening may be a combination of solid fencing,
landscaping, or the placement of the cargo containers behind, between or within buildings.
4.If located adjacent to a building, the cargo container must be painted to match the
building’s color.
5.Cargo containers may not occupy any required off-street parking spaces.
6.Cargo containers shall meet all setback requirements for the zone.
7.Outdoor cargo containers may not be refrigerated.
8.Outdoor cargo containers may not be stacked.
D.Licensed and bonded contractors may use cargo containers in any zone for temporary
storage of equipment and/or materials at a construction site during construction that is authorized
by a City building permit.
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18.50.070 Yard Regulations
A.Fences, walls, poles, posts, and other customary yard accessories, ornaments, furniture
may be permitted in any yard subject to height limitations and requirements limiting obstruction of
visibility to the detriment of public safety. The height of opaque fences along street frontages is
limited to 4 feet, with lattice or other open material allowed up to 6 feet.
B.In the case of through lots, unless the prevailing front yard pattern on adjoining lots
indicates otherwise, front yards shall be provided on all frontages.
C.Where the front yard that would normally be required on a lot is not in keeping with the
prevailing yard pattern, the Department may waive the requirement for the normal front yard and
substitute therefore a special yard requirement, which shall not exceed the average of the yards
provided on adjacent lots.
D.In the case of corner lots, a front yard of the required depth shall be provided in
accordance with the prevailing yard pattern, and a second front yard of half the depth required
generally for front yards in the district shall be provided on the other frontage.
E.In the case of corner lots with more than two frontages, the Department shall determine
the front yard requirements, subject to the following conditions:
1.At least one front yard shall be provided having the full depth required generally in the
district;
2.The second front yard shall be the minimum set forth in the district;
3.In the case of through lots and corner lots, there will be no rear yards but only front and
side yards;
4.In the case of through lots, side yards shall extend from the rear lines of front yards
required. In the case of corner lots, yards remaining after full and half depth front yards have been
established shall be considered side yards. (See Figure 18-4.)
18.50.080 Exemption of Rooftop Appurtenances
A.The height limitations specified in this chapter shall not apply to church spires,
monuments, chimneys, water towers, elevator towers, mechanical equipment, and other similar
rooftop appurtenances usually required to be placed above the roof level and not intended for
human occupancy or the provision of additional floor area; provided, that mechanical equipment
rooms or attic spaces are set back at least 10 feet from the edge of the roof and do not exceed
20 feet in height.
18.50.083 Maximum Building Length
A.In the MDR and HDR zone, the maximum building length shall be as follows:
For all buildings except as
described below:
MDR…………………….......50
ft.
HDR………………………....50
ft.
Maximum building length with bonus for modulating off-sets:
• For structures with a
maximum building height
of 2 stories or 25 feet,
whichever is less, and
having horizontal
modulation or a minimum
MDR………………………..100
ft.
HDR………………………..200
ft.
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vertical change in roof
profile of 4 feet at least
every two units or 50 feet,
whichever is less
• For structures with a
building height over 2
stories or 25 feet,
whichever is less, with a
horizontal & vertical
modulation of 4 feet or an 8
foot modulation in either
direction
MDR………………………..100
ft.
HDR………………………..200
ft.
•For townhouse structures
with horizontal modulation
or a minimum vertical
change in roof profile of 4
feet at least every two units
or 50 feet, whichever is
less
MDR…………………….......80
ft.
HDR………………………..125
ft.
Maximum building length with bonus for modulating off-sets: Modulation shall be required for
every 2 units or 50 feet, whichever is less, as measured along the building’s length. Grouping of
offsets in maximum four unit modules may be permitted as part of a design review approval (see
Figure 18-5).
18.50.085 Maximum Percent Development Area Coverage
A.In the LDR zones the maximum percent development area coverage for a single-family
development shall be as follows:
1.75% on lots less than 13,000 square feet up to a maximum of 5,850 sq. ft.; and
2.45% on lots greater than or equal to 13,000 square feet.
B.In the MDR and HDR zones the maximum percent development area coverage shall be
50%, less the following surfaces:
1.the footprint of an exclusive recreational facility;
2.a proportion of a recreational facility footprint when contained within a general use
building as follows: the portion of the footprint area occupied by a recreational facility divided by
the number of floors in that portion of the building;
3.vehicle circulation aisles between separate parking areas;
4.sidewalks;
5.paths; and
6.other pedestrian/recreation facilities clearly designed to enhance the pedestrian
environment.
C.Senior citizen housing development in HDR is exempt from development area coverage
maximum; however, if the senior citizen housing is converted to regular apartments, the 50% limit
must be met.
D.The 50% maximum development area coverage for townhouse development may be
increased up to a maximum of 75% development area coverage, if the applicant uses low-impact
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development techniques that are technically feasible and in accordance with the Surface Water
Design Manual (TMC 14.30).
18.50.090 Height Limitation for Amusement Devices
A.Amusement devices shall be allowed up to 115 feet in height in any commercial or
industrial zones. Any devices that exceed the height limit of the zone in which they are located
shall be subject to a conditional use permit.
18.50.110 Archaeological/Paleontological Information Preservation Requirements
A.The following provisions shall apply in all zones:
1.If there is reason to believe that archaeological resources will be disturbed, a cultural
resources assessment shall be conducted and, if warranted, an archaeological response plan
and provisions for excavation monitoring by a professional archaeologist shall be made prior to
beginning construction. The assessment should address the existence and significance of
archaeological remains, buildings and structures on the State or Federal historic registers,
observable paleontological deposits and may include review by the State Archaeologist.
2.It is recommended that the applicant coordinate a predetermination study by a
professional archaeologist during the geotechnical investigation phase, to determine site
archaeological potential and the likelihood of disturbing archaeological resources.
3.Excavations into historically native soil, when in an area of archaeological potential, shall
have a professional archaeologist on site to ensure that all State statutes regarding archaeological
conservation/ preservation are implemented. The applicant shall provide a written commitment to
stop work immediately upon discovery of archaeological remains and to consult with the State
Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) to assess the remains and develop
appropriate treatment measures. These may include refilling the excavation with no further
responsibility.
4.An applicant who encounters Indian burials shall not disturb them and shall consult with
OAHP and affected tribal organizations pursuant to State statutes.
5.The Director is authorized to:
a.conduct studies to generally identify areas of archaeological/ paleontological
potential;
b.make determinations to implement these provisions; and
c.waive any and all of the above requirements, except for TMC 18.50.110-4
(reporting of discovered Indian burials), if the proposed action will have no probable significant
impact on archaeological or historical resources that are eligible for listing in the National Register
of Historic Places, or on observable paleontological resources. Examples of such actions include
excavation of fill materials, disturbance of less than 10,000 square feet of native soils to a depth
of 12 inches, penetration of native soils with pilings over a maximum 8% of the building footprint,
and paving over native soils in a manner that does not damage cultural resources. The above
examples are illustrative and not determinative. A case-by-case evaluation of
archaeological/paleontological potential value and proposed disturbance must be made.
18.50.130 Structures Over Public R-O-W
A.A developer who controls parcels on both sides of a public right-of-way may request
approval to bridge the street with a structure as a Type 2 special permission decision. Only the
width of the building that extends across the street is exempt from setbacks; the remainder of the
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building must meet them. The developer must also obtain air rights and comply with all other
relevant codes, including the Washington State Building Code.
18.50.140 Charging Station Locations
A.Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations are allowed as an accessory use in the
predominantly residential zones LDR, MDR and HDR. Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations are
allowed as a permitted use in all other zones. Level 3 charging stations, battery exchange stations,
and rapid charging stations are allowed as a permitted use in all zones that allow other automotive
services such as gas stations, and are allowed as an accessory use in all other zones.
18.50.150 Retaining Wall Setback Waiver
A.Retaining walls with an exposed height greater than four feet may be allowed in required
front, side or rear yard setbacks as a Type 2 Special Permission decision to the Community
Development Director under the following circumstances:
1.When the applicant’s property is on the lower side of the retaining wall and it is not visible
from adjacent properties or is screened by landscaping; or
2.When a wall built on a property line or perpendicular to it benefits the lots on both sides,
and the owners of both properties agree to jointly maintain the wall; or
3.When a wall in a front yard is required due to roadway expansion or improvements.
18.50.170 Lighting Standards
A.Parking and loading areas shall include lighting capable of providing adequate
illumination for security and safety. Lighting standards shall be in scale with the height and use of
the associated structure. Any illumination, including security lighting, shall be directed away from
adjoining properties and public rights-of-way.
B.In the MDR and HDR zones, porches, alcoves and pedestrian circulation walkways shall
be provided with low level safety lighting. Pedestrian walkways and sidewalks may be lighted with
lighting bollards.
C.MIC/L and MIC/H. The following site lighting standards shall apply to portions of
developments within 100 feet of the Tukwila Manufacturing/Industrial Center boundary as defined
in the 1995 Comprehensive Plan:
1.The minimum light levels in parking areas, paths between the building and street or
parking areas shall be 1 foot candle;
2.The maximum ratio of average: minimum light level shall be 4:1 for illuminated grounds;
3.Maximum illumination at the property line shall be 2 foot candles;
4.Lights shall be shielded to eliminate direct off-site illumination; and
5.General grounds need not be lighted.
D.Variation from these standards may be granted by the Director of the Department of
Community Development based on technical unfeasibility or safety considerations.
18.50.180 Recycling Storage Space for Residential Uses
A.Apartment and condominium developments over six units shall provide 1-1/2 square feet
of recycling storage space per dwelling unit, which shall be located in collection points as follows:
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1.No dwelling unit within the development shall be more than 200 feet from a collection
point.
2.Collection points shall be located so that hauling trucks do not obstruct pedestrian or
vehicle traffic on-site, or project into any public right-of-way.
3.Collection points shall not be located in any required setback or landscape area.
18.50.185 Recycling Storage Space for Non-Residential Uses
A.Recycling storage space for non-residential uses shall be provided at the rate of at least:
1.Two square feet per every 1,000 square feet of building gross floor area in office,
medical, professional, public facility, school and institutional developments.
2.Three square feet per every 1,000 square feet of building gross floor area in
manufacturing, industrial and other non-residential uses not specifically mentioned in these
requirements.
3.Five square feet per every 1,000 square feet of building gross floor area in retail
developments.
B.Outdoor collection points shall not be located in any required setback or landscape area.
C.Collection points shall be located in a manner so that hauling trucks do not obstruct
pedestrian or vehicle traffic on-site, or project into any public right-of-way.
18.50.190 Design of Collection Points for Garbage and Recycling Containers
A.Residential and non-residential collection points shall be designed as follows:
1.An opaque wall or fence of sufficient size and height to provide complete screening shall
enclose any outside collection point. Architectural design shall be consistent with the design of
the primary structure(s) on the site.
2.Collection points shall be identified by signs not to exceed two square feet.
3.Weather protection of recyclables and garbage shall be ensured by using weather-proof
containers or by providing a roof over the storage area.
18.50.200 Peer Review of Technical Studies
A.The Department will review all technical information submitted as part of any application
to verify it meets all requirements of the Tukwila Municipal Code. At the discretion of the Director,
any technical studies required as part of the application including, but not limited to, noise reports,
lighting plans, and parking demand studies, may undergo peer review at the expense of the
applicant.
18.50.210 Marijuana Related Uses
A.The production, processing and retailing of marijuana is and remains illegal under
federal law. Nothing herein or as provided elsewhere in the ordinances of the City of Tukwila is
an authorization to circumvent federal law or provide permission to any person or entity to violate
federal law. Only state-licensed marijuana producers, marijuana processors, and marijuana
retailers may locate in the City of Tukwila and then only pursuant to a license issued by the State
of Washington. The purposes of these provisions is solely to acknowledge the enactment by the
state Liquor and Cannabis Board of a state licensing procedure and to permit, but only to the
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extent required by state law, marijuana producers, processors, and retailers to operate in
designated zones of the City.
B.Marijuana production, processing, selling or delivery.
1.The production, processing, selling, or delivery of marijuana, marijuana-infused
products, or useable marijuana may not be conducted in association with any business
establishment, dwelling unit, or home occupation located in any of the following areas:
Low Density Residential
Medium Density Residential
High Density Residential
Mixed Use Office
Office
Residential Commercial Center
Neighborhood Commercial Center
Regional Commercial
Regional Commercial Mixed Use
Tukwila Urban Center
Commercial/Light Industrial
Light Industrial
Manufacturing Industrial Center/Light
Manufacturing Industrial Center/Heavy
2.Violations.
a.Any person violating or failing to comply with the provisions of this section of the
Tukwila Municipal Code shall be subject to enforcement as prescribed in TMC 8.45 and the
issuance of a Notice of Violation and Order, in accordance with TMC 8.45.070, that shall carry
with it a cumulative monetary penalty of $1,000.00 per day for each violation from the date set for
compliance until compliance with the Notice of Violation and Order is achieved.
b.In addition to any penalty that may be imposed by the City, any person violating or
failing to comply with this section shall be liable for all damage to public or private property arising
from such violation, including the cost of restoring the affected area to its condition prior to the
violation.
c.Any penalties imposed under this section may be doubled should the
violation(s) occur within 1,000 feet of the perimeter of the grounds of any elementary or secondary
school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, public park, public transit
center, or library, or any game arcade to which admission is not restricted to persons aged 21
years or older, as such terms are defined in WAC 314-55-010 as now enacted or hereafter
amended.
C.Growth of medical marijuana for the personal medical use of an individual qualifying
patient as defined in RCW 69.51A.010 is subject to strict compliance with all state regulations,
procedures and restrictions as set forth or hereafter adopted at RCW 69.51A.
D.The establishment, location, operation, licensing, maintenance or continuation of a
cooperative, as described in RCW 69.51, or medical cannabis collective gardens or dispensaries
as described in RCW 69.51A.085, is prohibited in all zones of the City. Any person who violates
this subsection (TMC 18.50.210.D) shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall be punished
by a fine not to exceed $5,000.00, or by imprisonment in jail for a term not exceeding one year,
or by both such fine and imprisonment.
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E.Any violation of this section is declared to be a public nuisance per se, and, in addition
to any other remedy provided by law or equity, may be abated by the City under the applicable
provisions of this code or state law. Such violations shall be enforced and appealed with the
procedures set forth in TMC 8.45. Each day any violation of this section occurs or continues shall
constitute a separate offense.
F.Additional Relief. The City may seek legal or equitable relief to enjoin any acts or
practices and abate any condition which constitutes or will constitute a violation of this section of
the TMC. The remedies and penalties provided herein are cumulative and shall be in addition to
any other remedy provided by law.
18.50.220 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Standards
A.For the purposes of this section, terms shall be defined as follows:
1.“Major transit stop” means a stop on a high-capacity transportation system funded or
expanded under the provisions of RCW 81.104, including but not limited to: commuter rail stops,
stops on rail or fixed guideway systems, including transitways, stops on bus rapid transit routes,
or routes that run on high-occupancy vehicle lanes, stops for a bus or other transit mode providing
actual fixed route service at intervals of at least fifteen minutes for at least five hours during the
peak hours of operation on weekdays.
2.“Principal Unit” means the single-family housing unit, duplex, triplex, townhome, or other
housing unit located on the same lot as an accessory dwelling unit.
B.General Standards.
1.Two (2) ADUs may be created per lot. The lot shall contain one (1) principal unit and a
maximum of two (2) ADUs. These ADUs may be either attached or detached.
2.Attached ADUs may occupy a maximum of 40% of the square footage of the principal
unit (excluding the area of any attached garage) or up to 1,000 square feet, whichever is greater.
3.Detached ADUs may be a maximum of 1,000 square feet. If built over a detached
garage, the detached garage would not count toward the area limit for the ADU.
4.Detached ADUs may be up to 25 feet in height.
5.ADUs are subject to the development standards of the zoning district they are located
within. Development standards relating to setbacks and development coverage do not apply to
conversions of existing non-conforming structures that are proposed for ADU conversion. New
ADUs are not subject to rear yard setbacks on parcels where the rear yard abuts an alley.
6.ADUs may not be rented for periods of less than 30 days.
C.Parking.
1.See Figure 18-7 for parking requirements.
2.Tandem spaces are permitted.
18.50.240 Home Occupations
A.Home occupations shall meet the following standards:
1.There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the surrounding residential
development;
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2. No home occupation shall be conducted in any accessory building. This provision shall
not apply to adult family homes as defined in RCW 70.128.010 or community facilities as defined
in RCW 72.05.020;
3. Traffic generated by a home occupation shall not exceed two (2) visitors at any given
time, and no more than eight (8) total two-way visitor and non-resident employee trips per day;
4. The number of vehicles associated with a home-occupation shall not exceed two (2)
vehicles and must be parked on-site. Vehicles associated with the business shall not exceed:
a. A gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds;
b. A height of ten (10) feet; or
c. A length of 22 feet;
5. An off-street parking space shall be made available for any non-resident employee. All
parking spaces shall meet all development standards;
6. The business shall not involve more than one person who is not a resident of the
dwelling. This provision shall not apply to adult family homes as defined in RCW 70.128.010 or
community facilities as defined in RCW 72.05.020; and
7. Outdoor storage of materials associated with a home occupation is prohibited.
18.50.250 Emergency Housing and Emergency Shelter Criteria
A. Emergency housing and emergency shelter facilities are allowed subject to the following
criteria:
1. It must be a 24-hour-a-day facility where beds or rooms are assigned to specific
residents for the duration of their stay.
2. On-site services such as laundry, hygiene, meals, case management, and social
programs are limited to the residents of the facility and not available for drop -in use by non-
residents.
3. The facility must be located within a half mile walking distance of a bus or rail transit stop.
4. Facilities Emergency shelters with a capacity for 50 persons or greater, and emergency
housing facilities with a capacity for 75 persons or greater must be at least a half mile500 feet
from any other emergency housing or emergency shelter, calculated as a radius from the property
lines of the site. This distance may be reduced upon the applicant submitting documentation that
there is a barrier such as a river or freeway preventing access between the facilities, and the path
of travel between them on public roads or trails is at least half a mile500 feet.
5. The maximum number of residents in a facility is limited to the general capacity of the
building but in no case more than 45100.
6. Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7, with
individual units only accessible through interior corridors.
18.50.260 Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing Criteria
A. Permanent supportive housing and transitional housing facilities are allowed subject to
the following criteria:
1. On-site services such as laundry, hygiene, meals, case management, and social
programs are limited to the residents of the facility and not available for drop -in use by non-
residents.
120
2.The facility must be located within a half mile walking distance of a bus or rail transit stop.
3.Facilities with a capacity of 50 persons or greater must be at least a half mile500 feet
from any other permanent supportive housing or transitional housing, calculated as a radius from
the property lines of the site. This distance may be reduced upon the applicant submitting
documentation that there is a barrier such as a river or freeway preventing access between the
facilities, and the path of travel between them on public roads or trails is at least half a mile500
feet.
4.The maximum number of residents in a facility is limited to the general capacity of the
building but in no case more than 415 in LDR and, 30 in MDR, and 45 75 in HDR or other zones.
5.Buildings Facilities must have secure entrances, or a secure site, staffed 24/7, with
individual units only accessible through interior corridors.
18.50.270 Memorandum of Agreement for Emergency Housing, Emergency Shelter,
Permanent Supportive Housing or Transitional Housing
A.Prior to the start of operation, the City and facility operator shall develop and execute a
Memorandum of Agreement containing, at a minimum, the following items:
1.A Good Neighbor Agreement addressing the following items:
a.Quiet hours,
b.Smoking areas,
c.Security procedures,
d.Litter, and
e.Adequacy of landscaping and screening.
2.A Code of Conduct establishing a set of standards and expectations that residents must
agree to follow.
3.A parking plan approved by the City showing that the facility has adequate parking to
meet the expected demand from residents, staff, service providers and visitors. Residents may
not park off-site and all vehicles must be operational.
4.A coordination plan with both the Police and Fire Departments, including protocols for
response to the facility and to facility residents throughout the City and a maximum number of
responses threshold for law enforcement services as established by calls for services in TMC
5.60.040 through 5.60.060. If calls for law enforcement services exceed the agreed upon
threshold in any given quarter, the facility operator will work with the City to reduce calls below
the threshold level.
5.A requirement to provide regular reports to the City’s Human Services Program
Coordinator on how facilities are meeting performance metrics such as placement of residents
into permanent housing or addiction treatment programs.
121
Business
license
P = Permitted, A = Accessory, C =
Conditional, UUP = Unclassified Use
Permit
For parking requirements see Table 18-5
or Figure 18-7
Regional
Center TOD
Pond
District
Commercial
Center Work-Place
Retail 1
60
Animal Kennels and Shelters,
including doggy daycare C C
810A Athletic or Health Clubs P P P P P
90 Automotive Service and Repair P2 P
400
Banks, Financial, Insurance, and Real
Estate Services P P P
1030 Bar & Nightclubs P
P
3 P P
Ref.
above†
Brew Pubs, On-Site Brewing, Cocktail
Lounges, & Pool Halls P P P P
Bulk Retail P P P
Business Services (e.g. copying, fax
and mailing centers) P P P P
Ref.
above† Drive Through Facilities or Services P
P
3 P P
360A
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
L1&2 P P P P P
360B Electric Vehicle Charging State L3 A
P
3 A A A
90 Gas Stations, including Car Wash
P
3 P P
General Retail P P P P P
Ref.
above† Laundries, Tailors, and Dry Cleaners P P P P P
Ref.
above†
Personal Services (e.g. beauty &
barber shops, nail salons, spa, travel
agencies) P P P P
Ref.
above†
Recreation Facilities (commercial
indoor) P P P P
810C
Recreation Facilities (commercial
outdoor) P
Ref.
above†
Repair Shops (small scale goods:
bicycle, appliance, shoe, computer) P P P P
Ref.
above†
Restaurants with associated cocktail
lounges and sidewalk cafes P P P P P6
Ref.
above† Theaters except adult entertainment P P P
840
Vehicle Rental and Sales (not
requiring a commercial DL) P
P
3 P5 P
Attachment E
122
70
Veterinary Clinic with temporary
indoor boarding and grooming P P P P P
Office
Professional, Outpatient Medical,
Dental, Governmental Services, and
Research P P P P P
630 Medical and Dental Laboratories P P P P
Lodging
Ref.
above*
Hotel, Motel, Extended Stay, Bed and
Breakfasts P P P
Civic & Institutional
290
Convention & Exhibition Facilities,
including multipurpose arena facilities P
P
3 P
Ref.
above†
Cultural Facilities, including:
libraries, museums, art galleries,
performing
arts centers P P P
Ref.
above† Daycare Centers P P P P P
Ref.
above†
Education and Instructional
Facilities, public and private including
college
and universities P P P
Ref.
above†
Parks, Trails, Picnic Areas,
Playgrounds, and Public Community
Centers P P P P P
410 Police and Fire Stations C C C P P
Busine
ss license
P = Permitted, A = Accessory, C =
Conditional, UUP = Unclassified Use
Permit
For parking requirements see Table 18-5
or Figure 18-7
Regio
nal Center
T
OD
Pond
District
Commerci
al Center
Work-
Place
Post Office P P P
820B
Religious Institutions, greater than
750 sf assembly area C C C C C
820A
Religious Institutions, less than 750 sf
assembly area P P P P P
Industrial, Manufacturing & Warehouse
190
Cargo Containers subject to TMC
18.50.060 A
550
Industrial Commercial Services (e.g.
etching, film processing, lithography,
printing & publishing) P
123
Ref.
above†
Light Industrial: Manufacturing,
Processing and Assembling uses that
have
little potential for creating off-site noise,
smoke, dust, vibration or other
external impacts or pollution.
Manufacturing and processing of food
and
beverages including fermenting and
distilling; with or without a tasting
room, provided the tasting room occupies
less than 50% of the total area of
the building occupied by the tenant but no
more than 3500 square feet;
and the manufacturing process does not
cause off-site impacts to
neighboring properties or create a public
nuisance. P
990A/B
Outdoor storage of materials to be
manufactured or handled as part of a
permitted use within the Zone, screened
pursuant TMC 18.52 A
960 Self-Storage Facilities P
1110
Warehouse Storage and Wholesale
Distribution Facilities P
Transportation, Communication & Infrastructure
240 Commercial Parking , day use only P P P P P
370
Essential Public Facilities, except
those listed separately UUP
U
UP UUP UUP UUP
Intermodal Transit Stations, Rail
transit facilities UUP
U
UP UUP UUP UUP
Ref.
above†
Internet Data Centers & Telephone
Exchanges P
7100 Park and Ride Lots UUP
U
UP UUP UUP
720 Parking Areas A A A A A
Public Transit Facilities and Stations
(Bus) P P P P P
780
Radio, Television, Microwave, or
Observation Stations and Towers C C C C C
Ref.
above†
Utility Facilities, above ground/ not in
ROW C C C C P
Ref.
above†
Utility Facilities, underground/in
ROW P P P P P
1140 Wireless Communication Facilities P7
P
7 P7 P7 P7
124
Residential
320 Dormitories A A Ref.
above†
Dwelling: Multi-family, Townhouses,
Mixed Use, Senior Citizen Housing P P P P4
510 Home Occupation A A A P4
270
Continuing Care Retirement
Community P P
STEP Housing
Emergency Housing P8
P
8 P8
Emergency Shelter P8
P
8 P8
Permanent Supportive Housing P9
P
9 P9 P4, 9
Transitional Housing P9
P
9 P9 P4, 9
† Reference the above general zoning code use matrix for specific business license code.
** See TMC 18.28.260 for District specific parking standards.
1. Minimum interior height for ground level retail of all types is 18 feet from floor to floor plate. Use conversions in
existing buildings are not required to meet this standard.
2. New businesses are limited to locations within the Freeway Frontage Corridor. See additional design standards
in the Southcenter Design Manual.
3. East of the Green River only.
4. Only on properties fronting the Green River or Minkler Pond.
5. Excludes vehicle storage or maintenance.
6. 3,500 sf max per use.
7. Subject to TMC 18.58.
8. Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.250 and 18.50.270.
9. Subject to the criteria and conditions at TMC 18.50.260 and 18.50.270.
125
RCW RCW 35A.21.43035A.21.430
Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, indoor emergency housing, andTransitional housing, permanent supportive housing, indoor emergency housing, and
indoor emergency shelters.indoor emergency shelters.
A code city shall not prohibit transitional housing or permanent supportive housing in any zones inA code city shall not prohibit transitional housing or permanent supportive housing in any zones in
which residential dwelling units or hotels are allowed. Effective September 30, 2021, a code city shall notwhich residential dwelling units or hotels are allowed. Effective September 30, 2021, a code city shall not
prohibit indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in any zones in which hotels are allowed,prohibit indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in any zones in which hotels are allowed,
except in such cities that have adopted an ordinance authorizing indoor emergency shelters and indoorexcept in such cities that have adopted an ordinance authorizing indoor emergency shelters and indoor
emergency housing in a majority of zones within a one-mile proximity to transit. Reasonable occupancy,emergency housing in a majority of zones within a one-mile proximity to transit. Reasonable occupancy,
spacing, and intensity of use requirements may be imposed by ordinance on permanent supportive housing,spacing, and intensity of use requirements may be imposed by ordinance on permanent supportive housing,
transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters to protect public health andtransitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters to protect public health and
safety. Any such requirements on occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use may not prevent the siting of asafety. Any such requirements on occupancy, spacing, and intensity of use may not prevent the siting of a
sufficient number of permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoorsufficient number of permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor
emergency shelters necessary to accommodate each code city's projected need for such housing and shelteremergency shelters necessary to accommodate each code city's projected need for such housing and shelter
under RCW under RCW 36.70A.07036.70A.070(2)(a)(ii).(2)(a)(ii).
[ [ 2021 c 254 s 32021 c 254 s 3.].]
1/10/25, 12:15 PM RCW 35A.21.430: Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35A.21.430 1/1
Attachment F
126
1 STEP 101 FACTSHEET – JULY 2024
V3.1
Planning for STEP Housing Types
There is a critical demand for 1.1 million homes
in Washington over the next two decades,
according to projections from the Washington
State Department of Commerce. Of that 1.1
million, more than 600,000 homes need to be
affordable for individuals at the lowest income
levels (i.e., less than or equal to 80 percent of the
area median income).1In addition, if we do not
build more affordable housing, we will need
about 91,000 emergency housing beds in 20
years. Some of the housing for very low-income
segments can collectively be called “STEP.”
What is STEP?
Indoor emergency Shelter, Transitional housing, Emergency housing and Permanent supportive housing
a facility that provides a temporary* shelter for individuals or families who are currently experiencing
homelessness. This includes day and warming centers that do not provide overnight accommodations. (RCW
36.70A.030(15))
a project that provides housing and supportive services for up to two years (or longer) for individuals or families
who are experiencing homelessness. The purpose of transitional housing is to facilitate the movement of
people from homelessness to permanent housing. (RCW 84.36.043(3)(c))
temporary* indoor accommodation for individuals or families who are homeless or at imminent risk of
becoming homeless. It is intended to address the basic health, food, clothing and personal hygiene needs of
individuals or families. (RCW 36.70A.030(14))
subsidized, leased housing with no limits on length of stay. It is designed to support people who were
experiencing homelessness or likely to experience homelessness before moving because of their complex and
disabling behavioral health and physical health conditions. Residents are provided with support services, such
as mental and physical health care and employment services, to help them stay housed. Permanent supportive
housing often has less strict admissions criteria than other forms of housing, especially related to rental history,
criminal history and personal behaviors. (See RCW 36.70A.030(31) for full definition)
*Temporary refers to the duration of residence for individual participants rather than the physical structure
itself or the duration of land use.
HOUSING DIVISION
STEP COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT FOR ALL AUDIENCES
Future housing needs by area median income (AMI) groups
Attachment G
127
2 STEP 101 FACTSHEET – JULY 2024
V3.1
ARE THE CORE CAUSES OF
RISE IN HOMELESSNESS
Rent prices soared and housing vacancy rates
dropped. However, at the same time, workforce
participation grew, Gross Domestic Product grew and
wages increased.
INCREASED
HOMELESSNESS IN THE STATE
Additional investments and system improvements at
both state and local levels are needed to address
this issue. Tackling the root causes of rent increases
is crucial for effectively reducing homelessness.
RISING RENTS AND A LACK OF
HOUSING SUPPLY
FROM 2007-2023,
WASHINGTON EXPERIENCED A
How should my jurisdiction plan for STEP?
Cities and counties must plan for and
accommodate housing affordable to all incomes
in their 20-year comprehensive plans and
development regulations. These housing needs
are determined through a countywide process
where each jurisdiction receives a share of the
total countywide housing need. By their
comprehensive periodic update deadline (see
map), cities and counties must:
Develop policies to plan for and
accommodate housing affordable to all
economic segments,
Allow sufficient zoning capacity for these
housing needs, including permanent
supportive housing (PSH) and emergency housing,
Identify barriers to the development of affordable housing and an action plan to remove these barriers, and
Based on new state laws adopted in 2021, cities must not prohibit emergency housing and emergency
shelters in all zones that allow hotels, and cities must allow permanent supportive housing and transitional
housing in all zones that allow hotels and residential development.
Why Is STEP Such a Big Issue?
From 2007 to 2013, as rent prices surged and
vacancy rates decreased, Washington experienced
a dramatic increase in people experiencing
homelessness. In 2021, Washington made changes
to its state planning framework to address the need
for more housing, including STEP. Local jurisdictions
are currently working to implement these changes in
their local regulations and comprehensive plans.
$16.28 state
minimum
wage per hour
According to
federal estimates,
to afford rent for
a two-bedroom
home in
Washington: $36.33 $75,556
a household must
have an annual
income of
or an average
hourly rate of
128
3 STEP 101 FACTSHEET – JULY 2024
V3.1
Benefits of STEP
Reduces the number of people living and sleeping in unsafe conditions and public spaces
Helps various populations, including people who are currently homeless or housing insecure, formerly homeless
aging adults, families with child welfare involvement, individuals with chronic patterns of homelessness, people
involved with the justice system, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Provides tenancy support services to help vulnerable people maintain stable housing
Connects participants to essential services such as health care, job opportunities and public benefit income
Improves participants’ mental and physical health through timely medical care
Enhances participants’ employment prospects and incomes and fosters social connections
Reduces the likelihood of residents being incarcerated
Decreases the public cost burden on other services, such as hospitals and emergency response, and therefore costs
the same amount or less than its alternatives
Relevant Laws for Siting and Permitting STEP
Law Relevance to STEP
Growth Management Act:
RCW 36.70A.070(2)
Local governments fully planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) must plan
for and accommodate housing that is affordable to all income levels. Each jurisdiction is
required to allow sufficient capacity for STEP in accordance with their share of
countywide housing needs and make adequate provisions for these needs.
RCW 35.21.683 and RCW
35A.21.430
Cities must not prohibit indoor emergency shelters and indoor emergency housing in any
zones in which hotels are allowed, and must allow permanent supportive and transitional
housing in zones where residential dwelling units or hotels are allowed. The laws also
limit the application of occupancy, spacing and intensity of use requirements for STEP.
RCW 36.130.020
Local governments may not impose requirements on an affordable housing development
that are different from the requirements imposed on housing developments generally.
Affordable housing includes permanent supportive housing and other types of
subsidized and leased housing.
RCW 36.70A.545
Local governments fully planning under the GMA must provide density bonuses for any
affordable housing, including STEP types with leases, on real property owned or
controlled by a religious organization.
RCW 35.21.915, RCW
35A.21.360, and RCW
36.01.290
Local governments may not impose overly restrictive regulatory limits on encampments,
safe parking, overnight shelters and temporary small houses on property owned or
controlled by a religious organization.
RCW 36.70A.540
Local governments fully planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) have the
authority to offer incentives in exchange for providing development for low-income
households.
129
4 STEP 101 FACTSHEET – JULY 2024
V3.1
Promising Practices for Planning for STEP
Allow STEP outright as a permitted use in designated
zones. In some areas of Washington state, STEP is still
listed as a conditional use. This means STEP projects face
additional regulations that typically involve a longer local
government review process and may also include a public
input process that could delay permitting. The purpose of this process is to more carefully assess the
development's potential impacts on traffic, noise, safety and community character before granting approval.
To increase STEP, communities can allow these projects in certain zones without this additional process.
Reduce and clarify requirements to streamline permitting
steps and reduce barriers for STEP development. Many
local ordinances and regulations are not consistent with
state law since they include occupancy, spacing and
intensity of use2 requirements for STEP that are not
explicitly linked to public health and safety. Additionally,
many communities impose potentially burdensome development, operating, facility, reporting, service and
other requirements for STEP that differ from those for other similar residential dwelling types. When
developing local ordinances and regulations, jurisdictions can limit additional requirements for STEP to speed
up permitting, limit discretionary approval processes, reduce work for local government staff, support
developers and help increase affordable housing and STEP
production.
Expedite permitting processes for STEP projects, thereby
providing quicker, more predictable timelines that help
prevent cost increases caused by project delays. Expedited
permitting processes require sufficient staff, so jurisdictions interested in this strategy can start by assessing
whether they need to hire additional employees to expedite
reviews more efficiently.
Provide land use and financial incentives to encourage
more STEP production. Affordable housing and STEP
developments face numerous challenges before they can
reach the construction phase, and a lack of project financing is often one of the most significant barriers. To
help STEP projects overcome this challenge, jurisdictions can play an important role by providing support
through density bonuses, reduced or waived fees, regulatory exemptions, free or discounted land, grants or
loans, tax exemptions, or other support.
Encourage STEP development in locations close to
healthcare services, transportation, jobs and other
amenities to promote economic mobility and access to
services. STEP housing is best suited for urban growth
areas and cities, but may be appropriate in select Limited
Areas of More Intense Rural Development (LAMIRDs) if
enough support services, transportation and infrastructure services are available.
2 Intensity with respect to STEP can refer to the density of people or services needed by participants in a single location or facility.
Streamlines permitting
Encourages STEP development
Reduces work for local government staff
Speeds up local processes
Encourages STEP development
Limits discretionary approval processes
Reduces work for local government staff
Provides quicker and more predictable
development timelines
Prevents cost increases caused by project
delays
Keeps rents affordable for low-income
households
Increases STEP production
Furthers sustainability
Promotes inclusivity and accessible services
Provides access to transportation
Increases employment opportunities
Enhances overall wellbeing
130