Frequently Asked Questions

What new legislation will impact the comprehensive plan update? The following Washington State legislation has been introduced in recent years and is expected to influence the update process: SB 5593 - UGA amendments must include areas contiguous with development pressure. Capital Facilities and Transportation elements must address and identify where new facilities are needed. HB 1337 & SB 6617 - Cities must allow at least two ADUs per lot in zones that allow for single-family homes. Limits on impact fees, elimination of owner-occupancy, individual unit sale, and off-street parking. HB 2343 & HB 2673 - SEPA exemptions for infill housing and appeals made on planning actions that increase residential capacity. HB 1337 & HB 1923 - Affordable housing must be allowed at higher densities on land owned by religious institutions and cannot be subject to parking requirements HB 1181 - Cities must designate and distribute green spaces and urban/community forests, achieve environmental justice, reduce vehicle miles traveled, mitigate wildfire risk, and establish multimodal transportation level of service. HB 1220 - Updated Growth Management Housing goal to “plan for and accommodate housing affordable to all economic segments of the population”, provide for middle housing, and address racially disparate impacts. HB 1241 - Requires larger counties and cities to submit an implementation progress report on key outcomes, including housing affordability and availability, permit processing timelines, greenhouse gas emissions, and vehicle miles traveled, five years after the review and revision of their comprehensive plan. HB 1717 - Requires local governments to collaborate with federally recognized tribes during planning efforts.