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Land Use & Housing
AWC Priority Issue
Requiring Notice to Property Owners Before Condemnation Decisions (SB 5444/HB 1458)
Sponsored by the Governor and Attorney General, this bill would ensure better notice is given to the public for proposed eminent domain condemnation actions by either public or corporate entities. The Senate version was heard and passed from the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, January 24.
The House version, HB 1458, is scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee at 8 am on Friday, February 2. AWC supports these bills and, along with the Governor’s and Attorney General’s offices, has suggestions for a few minor technical amendments to ensure the enhanced notice procedures work as intended.
AWC Priority Issue
Promoting Affordable Housing for All (HB 1359)
This is a long and complex information-gathering and analysis bill. HB 1359 declares that a decent, appropriate, and affordable home in a healthy, safe environment for every household should be a state goal and that, at a minimum, this goal must be accomplished for every very low-income household by 2020.
AWC supports the overall intent of this bill and is consulting with its prime sponsor, Rep. Mark Miloscia (D-Federal Way), on ways to meet his goals. HB 1359 will be heard in the House Housing Committee at 10 am on Thursday, February 1.
Extending Timelines to Update Shoreline Master Programs
(HB 1412)
Over 200 cities and towns are required to maintain and soon update a Shoreline Master Program (SMP). The rules guiding these updates were the subject of considerable controversy several years ago. The Legislature established an updated schedule and gave cities, towns and counties two years to complete their updates. As the SMPs progress, many communities are realizing the need for additional time to fully complete their programs.
This AWC-supported bill provides cities with the option of taking an additional year to complete their SMPs, and will be heard before the House Local Government Committee at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, January 30.
Clarifying the Definition of a Floodway (HB 1413)
When cities and towns plan and zone to protect frequently-flooded areas, they have typically relied upon maps provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Such maps show the location of flood-prone areas and identify those that may flood during a 100-year timeframe. Use of these maps has been challenged by some interests, leading to uncertainty about whether each city or town is responsible for creating its own map.
This bill, as understood by AWC staff, would reaffirm that cities may use FEMA maps to plan and zone to protect frequently-flooded areas. This AWC-supported bill will be heard in the House Local Government Committee at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, January 30.
These bills were heard and considered this past week by the House Housing Committee. Sponsored by park owners, the bills affect uses inside mobile home parks (those communities typically populated by older and smaller mobile homes).
HB 1148 and HB 1150 preempt cites from regulating the size and age of homes moving into parks. AWC testified in opposition and suggested cities should be able to ensure that older homes moving into parks meet updated health and safety standards.
AWC also testified in opposition to HB 1228, which pre-empts cities from charging units for stormwater or sewer charges except when charged in the same manner as multi-family units. We continue to work with some committee members in hopes of addressing our concerns.
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