1. Local Housing Policy Initiatives & Engagement
Housing WA Conference,
October 6, 2015
Kelly Rider, Policy Director
Kayla Schott-Bresler, Policy Manager
Marty Kooistra, Executive Director
Housing Development Consortium Seattle-King County

2. Overview Go Local Comprehensive Plan Framework
Local Solutions to Match Local Context

3. Why Local Action?
Build community, ownership, and connection to public sector and process
Traditional resources aren’t keeping up with the need
Growth Management Act responsibility
State has provided a lot of local flexibility
Devolution
Growth
Need federal gov’t. never be able to solve the need. can’t abandon communities where local action isn’t possible b/c of political context.

4. How close are you to your elected officials?
320 million
7 million
55k
How man people are trying to influence them.
Only three of them are representing but at local level if no districts, all represent you.
147
535 7
7,857 : 1
598,131 : 1
47,619: 1

5. Comprehensive Plan Framework
Washington State’s Growth Management Act &
Comprehensive Plan Housing Elements

6. Washington State Growth Management Act
Requires communities to plan for their share of anticipated population growth
State Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A) enacted in 1990
Housing Goal to: “…encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of the population of this state, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage preservation of existing housing stock.”
Housing Policy implementation starts with Local Comprehensive Plan Housing Elements
Requires communities to plan for their share of anticipated population growth (as provided by the state and county population allocation process.)

7. Comprehensive Plan Housing Element
Local Comprehensive Plans must include a Housing Element that:
(a) includes a needs assessment;
(b) includes a statement of goals, policies, objectives, and mandatory provisions for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing
(c) identifies sufficient land for housing
(d) makes adequate provisions for existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community.
Local Comprehensive Plans must also be consistent with regional policy documents (ie: MPOs like PSRC’s Vision 2040) and Countywide Planning Policies.
Some cities also complete a Strategy Plan.
Housing Elements make commitments to explore or implement housing policies.
Local Comprehensive Plans must include a Housing Element that:
(a) includes an inventory and analysis of existing and projected housing needs that identifies the number of housing units necessary to manage projected growth;
(b) includes a statement of goals, policies, objectives, and mandatory provisions for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing, including single-family residences;
(c) identifies sufficient land for housing, including, but not limited to, government-assisted housing, housing for low-income families, manufactured housing, multifamily housing, and group homes and foster care facilities; and
(d) makes adequate provisions for existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community.

8. Example Policies Promote Equitable Communities of Opportunity
Promote a variety of housing types in all neighborhoods.
Encourage preservation AND new development of housing throughout the city that addresses the needs of all economic segments.
In all neighborhoods, particularly near employment, education, and transit opportunities, encourage and support funding and permitting for the development of housing affordable to low-income households.
Promote use of vacant, surplus land for affordable housing, particularly near transit, employment, and education opportunities.
Promote Partnerships
Encourage, assist, and partner with non-profit organizations that construct and provide affordable housing and related services.
Collaborate with other jurisdictions to assess housing needs, coordinate funding, and preserve and create affordable housing.
Support and encourage legislation at the county, state, and federal level that promotes affordable housing goals.
Mixed Neighborhoods instead of segregated neighborhoods
Commit to things broader than city ownership. No excuse of “we don’t have the resources.” Importance of state lobbying and cost efficiencies of working across sectors and jurisdictional boundaries.

9. Example Policies Increase Public Funding
Work regionally to increase availability of public and private resources for affordable housing.
Explore the feasibility of creating a City or regional housing trust fund.
Support public and private funding for affordable housing at the local, state, and federal level.
Provide Development Incentives
Provide density bonuses, parking reductions, multi-family tax exemptions, fee waivers and permit expediting to encourage the development of housing affordable at below market-rate, for the greatest number of homes at the deepest level of affordability possible.
Consider mandating provision of affordable housing in transit station areas and when providing increased development potential.
Monitor, Evaluate, Review & Amend
Funding needed particularly at 30% AMI and below
Development Incentives bring in for-profit market, make non-profit development more cost effective and typically serve higher income households

10. Assessing Your Strengths & Opportunities
Who are your champions?
Staff
Councilmembers
Planning Commissioners
What fits your local context?
Preservation &/or New Construction
Non-Profit &/or For-Profit
Financing v Land Use Policies
Explore &/or Require

11. Preparing for Comp Plan Engagement
Policy Recommendations (Solutions)
Mobilization (Messengers)
Messaging (Values)
Data (Needs)
Know Your Timeline
Should be able to get data through the Housing Needs Assessment of the Comprehensive Plan

13. Local Solutions to Match Local Context
Comprehensive Plan Implementation

14. Non-Regulatory Actions
Education & Community Engagement
Strategy Task Force
Partnerships
State and Federal Advocacy
I haven’t mentioned surplus property anywhere except in comp plan policies

15. Community Education and Awareness Building
Partnerships
Staff Role
Houisng for All forum and Plannign Commission Meeting
NKC Workgroup

16. Development Incentives or Requirements
Shoreline
MFTE
Inclusionary/Incentive Zoning
Commercial Linkage Fee
Impact Fee Exemption
Parking Reductions
Fire Benefit Charge Exemption
Mention permit and other fees to exempt? How sure are we about legality?
Might want to mention the “poor and infirm” clause.
TOD

17. Inclusionary Zoning Opportunity for action Policy Choices
Voluntary or Mandatory?
“Set-Aside” Requirement
Income Targeting
Incentives
In-Lieu Fee?
Shoreline example, transit investment, and upzone. Incentives can be layered with other programs (mfte, impact fee exemptions)
HALA

18. Financing Housing Trust Funds & ARCH Housing levies HB 2263
Mental Illness & Drug Dependency sales tax
Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)
Sound Transit 3
General Fund
CDBG
Dedicate revenue from a specific purpose
Dedicate $ per resident allocation
CDBG allocations
ST3 funding and surplus properties

19. Choices, Choices, Choices
Taxing Source
Action
Jurisdiction
Authorizing Leg
Housing Levy
Property Tax
Voter approval
City or County
RCW 84.55
HB 2263
Sales Tax
County, cities after 2 years (3 years in King County)
RCW 82.14
REET
Tax on the sale of real estate
Council approval
City
Not yet authorized for affordable housing
Mention iz and other things that can fund trust funds

20. Other Strategies Tenant Protections Preservation
Tenant Relocation and Assistance Ordinance
Just Cause Eviction Ordinance
Section 8 Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
Access to Housing Legislation, HALA
Preservation
Rental Inspections
Acquisition/Code Enforcement Loan Program
Preservation Property Tax Exemption
Accountable Communities of Health
Note support for Section 8 at the state level too

21. Final Thoughts & Recommendations

22. Resources
Management/Short-Course-on-Local- Planning/Pages/default.aspx
bd47f577175c/Planning.aspx
HALA
ARCH
GMA website
Comp Plan website
PSRC housing element guide
Add HDC housing wa report?