Puts Seattle on track to meet June 30 state deadline, consideration of permanent regulations to begin next month

Today the Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan, chaired by Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), voted unanimously to approve amended interim HB 1110 legislation, also known as the ‘middle housing’ bill, which requires cities to allow a broad range of housing types besides single family homes, such as multiplexes, townhouses, and cottage housing. The approved interim legislation will now go before the full Council for a vote at their next regular meeting on May 27.

“I want to thank my colleagues, Council Central Staff, and all the legislative staffers who worked so hard over the past several months to create interim HB 1110 legislation that our city can be proud of. This interim legislation enables the City of Seattle to meet the state’s middle housing implementation deadline while providing us additional time to consider the full Comprehensive Plan and permanent HB 1110 legislation,” said Chair Hollingsworth. “We still have a great deal of work ahead. I know many residents are passionate about housing, density, and the future of our region. I encourage everyone to stay engaged throughout the coming months as the committee takes a closer look at the Mayor’s One Seattle Plan and permanent HB 1110 legislation.”

Background

Interim HB 1110 legislation was designed to ensure that Seattle meets the June 30 implementation deadline for the state’s middle housing bill, giving Councilmembers and the community additional time to consider the Mayor’s proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan and permanent HB 1110 legislation.

Earlier this year the proposed plan received six separate legal challenges, delaying the process of adoption of permanent regulations. In April, all six were dismissed by the Seattle Hearing Examiner. While clearing the way for the City Council to continue consideration of both the Comprehensive Plan and permanent HB 1110 legislation, it did not give the City enough time to meet the June deadline. The interim HB 1110 legislation requires cities to allow a wider variety of housing types such as duplexes, triplexes, and stacked flats in primarily single-family zones, and places limits on the regulation of middle housing.

What’s next

The Council will begin consideration of permanent HB 1110 legislation in June.

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