Our Legislature is once again trying to strong-arm Washington cities into giving up local control over land use. SB 5190 and HB 1110 would do just that. These bills, stunning in their overreach, would allow for:
- At least four units per lot in all residential areas;
- Six units per lot in all residential, if two of the six are “affordable”;
- At least six units per lot in all residential if within a half-mile of a major transit stop.
The bill(s) would lock cities into straitjacket compliance. If cities do not comply within a certain time frame, “model ordinances” based on the language mandating the mass increase in density would “supersede, preempt, and invalidate local development regulations” until they acquiesce.
If the state wants cities to focus on housing supply, a better approach than these heavy-handed bills which preempt local control is to update the Growth Management Act housing targets, letting local jurisdictions do what is best for their own communities. Cities have elected officials, planning departments and citizens who know best how to thoughtfully and appropriately increase housing supply to fit within their communities.
Let lawmakers know that we want to maintain local control! Go to https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder.
