Last week, The Seattle City Council, led by Councilmember Dan Strauss, Chair of the Land Use Committee, celebrated the passage of a legislative package that aims to increase affordable housing production by streamlining the permitting process. Proposed by Mayor Bruce Harrell, the package received overwhelming approval from the full council. The bills within the package support efforts to expand the city’s affordable rental and homeownership housing stock by exempting these projects from design review, thereby increasing permitting efficiency and reducing construction timelines.
The legislative package includes two key bills that address different aspects of the permitting process. Council Bill 120591, now officially codified into law, establishes permanent exemptions from design review for affordable housing projects. These exemptions were initially implemented as temporary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to address bottlenecks that often hindered building production. The exemptions apply to both rental housing projects with 40% of units affordable at up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and homeownership projects with 40% of units affordable at up to 80% AMI. It’s important to note that these projects remain subject to the city’s building and land use codes, as well as regular health and safety requirements.
The second bill, Council Bill 120581, introduces temporary provisions to the permit review process, allowing housing projects that choose to meet the City’s Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirement through on-site performance to be exempt from design review. Additionally, this legislation permits these projects to receive departures from design standards and eliminates outdated language in the City’s Land Use code, providing clarity to the definition of affordable housing.
The temporary exemptions from design review, which were made permanent through Council Bill 120591, have proven to expedite the opening of affordable housing projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. By removing the need for extensive design review, these projects can move forward more swiftly, reducing costs and accelerating construction timelines. The streamlined process has been successful in facilitating the production of affordable housing units, ensuring that more individuals and families can access safe and affordable homes in the city.
Councilmember Strauss, a strong advocate for affordable housing, emphasized the need to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and expedite the delivery of affordable homes for Seattle residents.
“We cannot allow self-imposed city processes to delay building the affordable homes Seattleites need,” he said. “Our legislation cuts bureaucratic red tape to speed the delivery of housing projects and homeownership opportunities. I’m proud to partner with Mayor Harrell and sponsor this legislation because the family I grew up in should be able to afford to live in the Seattle of today, and tomorrow.”
Harrell echoed Councilmember Strauss’s sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need to build more affordable housing quickly and reduce barriers through a more efficient permitting process.
“We have to build more affordable housing and build affordable housing more quickly,” said Harrell. “Reducing barriers and creating a more efficient permitting process to expedite construction is an important part of our comprehensive approach to meeting Seattle’s urgent housing needs. I want to thank the City Council for passing this legislation and helping us make progress on our commitment that in One Seattle everyone should have a safe, affordable place to call home.”
The legislative package has garnered support from various organizations and community members invested in affordable housing. Kathleen Hosfeld, Executive Director of Homestead Community Land Trust, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to build affordable homeownership opportunities, creating stability, equity, and opportunity for first-time homebuyers.
“This legislation enables us to more quickly build desperately needed affordable homeownership opportunities that create stability, equity, and opportunity for first-time homebuyers,” she said.
The Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County commended the city for its commitment to addressing the housing affordability crisis and prioritizing the needs of low-income families and individuals.
“We commend the City of Seattle for its commitment to addressing the housing affordability crisis and prioritizing the needs of low-income families and individuals,” said Jesse Simpson, Policy Manager for the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County. “By permanently exempting affordable housing from design review, this legislation will streamline the development process and let our members build affordable homes in Seattle faster and more efficiently. This is a major step forward in our collective efforts to ensure everyone in our community has access to safe, affordable homes.”
The passage of this legislation marks a significant milestone in Seattle’s ongoing efforts to address the housing affordability crisis. By streamlining the development process and increasing the efficiency of building affordable homes, the city aims to ensure that all residents have access to safe and affordable housing. With these measures in place, Seattle takes a substantial step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable city for all its residents.
