OLYMPIA — A slimmed version of a bill to allow more duplexes or fourplexes in cities across Washington is on its way to becoming law.
The “middle housing” proposal passed the state Senate 35-14 last week. It previously passed 75-21 in the state House of Representatives, where it must receive one more approval before heading to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk.
Larger cities across the state would be required to allow denser types of housing on lots — an attempt to shift zoning laws away from decades of only allowing single-family homes.
It’s one of a number of proposals making its way through the Legislature this year as lawmakers attempt to address the state’s growing housing and homelessness crisis.
Cities with more than 75,000 people, such as Everett, would be required to allow fourplexes on all lots.
They would be required to allow sixplexes on all lots within a quarter mile of a major transit stop, or if at least two of the units are affordable housing.
Under the proposal, such middle housing would only have to follow an administrative design review, and cities could not set more restrictive standards than for single-family residences.
An earlier version of this year’s bill would have required all cities of at least 6,000 or more to allow up to fourplexes on all residential lots. The proposal had bipartisan support when it was first announced.
Republicans pushed back on the proposal in the Senate, saying it took away local zoning decisions.
Eight Republicans voted in favor of the bill, including Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia. Braun called the bill an important and challenging one.
There aren’t enough houses in the state to meet the needs, he said, adding that one fix is increasing where housing can be built.
Despite early pushback, the proposal as passed on Tuesday has the support of the Association of Washington Cities.
Carl Schroeder, deputy director of government relations at the association, said last week that cities are beginning to support more creative policy changes to address the state’s growing housing needs.
“Local governments are ready and willing to build on our longstanding partnership with the state to work together and create a variety of solutions that will benefit all our shared residents, including our most vulnerable,” Schroeder said in a statement.
The Legislature has until April 23 to give the final approval before sending the bill to Inslee’s desk.
Reprinted with permission under a Creative Commons license with localized edits. The original version of this story in The Spokesman-Review is here: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/apr/11/duplex-influx-middle-housing-passes-hurdle-in-wash/
