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Issues&Impacts

Issues & Impacts Q4 2024

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Issues & Impacts Q4 2024

Back to News Center Issues & Impacts is a quarterly publication produced by Seattle King County REALTORS® to inform members about current issues and successes within the Government Affairs Department. IN THIS ISSUE: PSRC Leveraging Federal Funds to Limit New Housing Lot-Splitting Gaining Ground in Comprehensive Plans Federal Way Major…

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PSRC Leveraging Federal Funds to Limit New Housing

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on PSRC Leveraging Federal Funds to Limit New Housing

Back to News Center At an annual joint meeting of the City of Black Diamond, The City of Enumclaw and the Enumclaw School District, Black Diamond Mayor Carol Benson disclosed that her city had to reduce the amount of housing it planned in its Comprehensive Plan because of pressure from…

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Lot-Splitting Gaining Ground in Comprehensive Plans

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Lot-Splitting Gaining Ground in Comprehensive Plans

Back to News Center As cities and King County neared final votes on compressive plans, Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR) encouraged increased zoned densities through meetings with elected officials, letters, and public testimony.  In many jurisdictions, the opposition to upzones was fierce. SKCR’s voice was an important reminder to elected…

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Federal Way Major Crime Rates Down

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Federal Way Major Crime Rates Down

Back to News Center Issues related to public safety and crime came to a head a few years ago when three apparently unrelated high-profile murders occurred in Federal Way within 24 hours. Some commenters blamed concentrations of multifamily housing for the deaths. Others thought efforts to defund police, constrain the…

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Seattle Not Levying New Taxes to Fill Budget Gap

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Seattle Not Levying New Taxes to Fill Budget Gap

Back to News Center Seattle King County REALTORS® has been engaged in the Seattle budget process to ensure the record general fund budget deficits of $251 million in 2025 and $498 million in 2026 were not closed by levying new taxes. We commented formally and advocated to encourage transparency and…

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Black Diamond Lifts Cannabis Moratorium

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Black Diamond Lifts Cannabis Moratorium

Back to News Center Effective January 1, 2025, the city of Black Diamond lifted its moratorium on new retail cannabis establishments. The moratorium had been in place since 2013. The effort to lift the ban began in January of last year in response to a proposal by city council member…

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Renton Comprehensive Plan Update Approved

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Renton Comprehensive Plan Update Approved

Back to News Center At its final meeting of 2024, the Renton City Council approved the state-mandated update of its comprehensive plan to guide and facilitate the city’s growth over the next 20 years. The changes are intended to accommodate 17,000 new housing units and almost 32,000 jobs in Renton…

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Kent Voters Approve Levy with REALTORS® Support

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Kent Voters Approve Levy with REALTORS® Support

Back to News Center On election night in November, the Kent School District’s ballot proposition was losing with just 49.11% of the vote. Because it was a levy, and not a bond, 50% approval is required for passage. When all the votes were tallied, it passed with 50.77%. Citizens for…

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No Increase to SeaTac Property Taxes

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on No Increase to SeaTac Property Taxes

Back to News Center On November 27, the SeaTac City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance with no increase in the city’s 2025 property tax levy. Additionally, the city chose not to take advantage of the opportunity to increase property taxes based on its “banked capacity” to do so.…

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Sign Codes Updates

By jnaegeli / February 4, 2025 / Comments Off on Sign Codes Updates

Back to News Center Sign code updates are in play in the cities of Bellevue, Lake Forest Parks, and Duvall. Deliberation was paused on that work so comprehensive plans can be completed. We expect work to resume in the first quarter of 2025.

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