Land Use & Housing

AWC Priority
Refinements to the Land Use and Housing Elements of GMA Plans (ESHB 1727)

This bill’s passage is being promoted on the airwaves by the Realtors, who are suggesting that it will help cure housing affordability issues in Washington. While this may be an overstatement, the bill has been negotiated with the Realtors and other interests and is in large part a bill that can not hurt city interests. Additionally, the bill may actually provide some benefits as GMA-planning cities embark upon the next scheduled round of comprehensive planning and zoning updates in the years to come.

ESHB 1727 contains newly added provisions in Sections 5 and 6 authorizing up to three "rural village" pilot projects for the Central Puget Sound. The concern about these provisions is the number of units that might be allowed. There may be other amendments offered on this bill when it comes to the Senate floor that might create enough controversy and confusion to "sink it."

AWC, at this point, is mildly supportive of the bill and is working with sponsors and proponents to help make sure that it remains in a form that we can continue to support.

For more information, please contact Dave Williams, davew@awcnet.org.

AWC Priority
Regulating House-Banked Social Card Games (ESSB 5558)

ESSB 5558 sits in the House Rules Committee awaiting action. Cities with grandfather clauses and moratoriums are encouraged to contact their House members and urge them to help bring the bill to the floor of the House for a vote.

ESSB 5558 grandfathers existing city moratoriums that limit the number of card rooms. Seventeen cities currently have some form of a "grandfather" clause that must be addressed before legal action is taken against the city, likely voiding their moratorium. The bill also provides limited zoning authority and retains local governments’ ability to ban gambling establishments.

ESSB 5558 was amended by the House Commerce and Labor Committee eliminating the mandate for the use of a referendum associated with the annexation of areas that include a card room and the subsequent ban.

AWC supports this bill. If you have any questions or input on this issue, please contact Jim Justin at jimj@awcnet.org or Sheila Gall at sheilag@awcnet.org.

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