Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/901018
Learn more at mbaks.com/advocacy 1 IMPLEMENT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY RESPONSE TEAM (HART) RECOMMENDATIONS The MBA supports the successful implementation of HART's recommendations. Your Association participated in HART and many items we suggested are in the final report, including support for creating more accountability for city and county planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) in meeting growth targets and funding for more robust buildable lands reports. 2 BUILDABLE LANDS BILL—NEXT STEPS In July, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law SB 5254, which will change the way cities and counties participating in the buildable lands program determine lands suitable for development during the 20-year planning period. The MBA supports the successful implementation of SB 5254, including the development of a reasonable land market supply factor. 3 CONDOMINIUM LIABILITY REFORM The current regulatory environment for condominium construction in Washington state places significant liability on builders, making it prohibitively costly to bring this housing product to market at an affordable price point. The MBA supports lowering regulatory costs associated with building affordable condos without public subsidy. 4 MINIMUM NET URBAN DENSITY The MBA supports modifying the GMA to require minimum densities of up to six dwelling units per acre in urban growth areas. To the extent we fail to meet the demand for housing, this will only place added pressure on housing costs and drive families and workers farther away from job centers to find affordable housing. 5 SHORT PLATS: CHANGE URBAN STANDARD TO NINE WITH LOCAL OPTION FOR 30 The MBA supports changing the urban standard for short plats to nine lots in urban growth areas with a local option to allow short plats to go up to 30 lots. This change would save builders substantial time and money associated with the State Environmental Review Act (SEPA) process without compromising environmental protections. 6 MINIMUM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT The MBA supports the adoption of a minimum detached single-family residence requirement. Comprehensive plans are not required to enumerate their single-family goals. However, we know that a significant portion of the home-buying market demands this housing choice. By planning for a reasonable number of detached single-family units, jurisdictions will be better equipped to meet that demand. 7 MODIFY COMPLETENESS REVIEW The MBA supports modifying the Local Project Review Act to eliminate the 28-day completeness review and the 14-day re-review for a determination of consistency. This is an unnecessary step which can add weeks, if not months, to a permit application process without adding any corresponding value. This change would make housing more attainable by eliminating an expensive and unnecessary step in the permit process. 8 IMPLEMENT VESTING OF LOCAL PERMITS In the absence of a legislative solution on vesting, the MBA is asking local jurisdictions to adopt vesting of local permits. Codifying vesting of local permits would make housing more attainable because it provides the predictability and certainty needed for new housing projects to move forward. 9 SIMPLE MAJORITY FOR SCHOOL BOND MEASURES The MBA supports changing the approval threshold for school bond measures from 60 percent to a simple majority. More school districts in Washington could pass bond measures for much-needed buildings and facilities if the Legislature were to make this change. It would also reduce the need to charge expensive school impact fees on new construction, which only adds to the cost of new housing. 10 FEE SIMPLE TOWNHOUSE CODES The MBA supports allowing for fee simple, unit-lot subdivision of attached homes and is asking local jurisdictions to adopt fee simple townhouse codes. The primary benefit of fee-simple is that this ownership type makes it easier for buyers and builders alike to obtain financing from banks and acquire insurance. This change would make housing more attainable by removing a hurdle to homeownership, particularly of more affordable housing type. OUR 2018 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 53 WINTER 2017 master builder