Issues&Impacts
Back to News Center This fall, Seattle voters will be asked to decide on an increase to the city’s Business & Occupation (B&O) tax. The proposal comes from Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and could have significant implications for REALTORS®, real estate firms, and the broader…
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Back to News Center Enumclaw is the latest city in King County to take steps toward streamlining its permitting process by reforming its design review procedures. In January 2025, Jeff Potter of Integrity Land LLC submitted a privately initiated code amendment request focused on townhouse development standards. Seattle King County…
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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: REALTOR® Advocacy for Housing Supply Planning Commission Assist in Black Diamond Seattle Addresses Tree Canopy Concerns Burien…
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Back to News Center In 2023, the Legislature passed numerous new laws imposing new housing-related mandates on cities. In the four-county Central Puget Sound Region (King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties) cities were required to modify their comprehensive plans, and to modify their development regulations which implement the comprehensive plans.…
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Back to News Center Seattle King County REALTORS® has been supportive of, and working with, the city of Black Diamond even before the Legislature passed the plethora of new local government housing mandates in 2023. The City’s progress over the last several years has been impeded significantly by multiple unsuccessful…
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Back to News Center Seattle King County REALTORS® continues to work throughout the region to encourage cities to adopt flexible and bold comprehensive plan policies and related development regulations to encourage ADUs and middle housing in their cities. We are encouraging policy makers to view increased housing supply through zoned…
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Back to News Center Seattle King County REALTORS® worked with Burien’s Planning Commission and staff, and later with the City Council, on amendments to Burien’s Critical Areas Ordinance, including changes to meet state mandates by: Encouraging housing developments in residential areas across the city. Expanding the number, and type, of…
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Back to News Center Seattle King County REALTORS® advocacy in Federal Way during Q2 of 2025 focused on support for two proposed ordinances for Middle Housing (MH) and Unit Lot Subdivision (ULS). In addition SKCR connected city councilmembers with home builders and representatives of the Master Builders Association to identify…
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Back to News Center The city of Kent has undertaken its own distinctive and timely two-phase “HOUSING RE-CODE” approach in order to complete the major periodic update to its comprehensive plan, incorporate the 2023 housing-related mandates into its planning, and update its development code and regulations in time to meet…
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Back to News Center After years of work, the Bellevue City Council officially adopted land use code changes and rezoned the Wilburton transit-oriented development area to implement the Wilburton Vision, which seeks to transform Wilburton as a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood with strong transit connections. The rezone establishes four new mixed-use…
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