On Monday, March 18, 2019, the Seattle City Council passed and adopted legislation which brings widespread zoning changes to 27 designated areas in the city. Mayor Durkan signed the legislation on March 20 and the bill will take effect on April 19. The new zoning updates are designed to increase housing density and affordability in neighborhoods […]
Land Use
Hearing Examiner Issues Decision in Favor of the City of Seattle Regarding Mandatory Housing Affordability
On Monday, January 7, 2019, the Seattle City Council (“City Council”) began debating a proposed legislation that would allow for construction of larger buildings and the imposition of mandatory affordable housing requirements in twenty-seven (27) neighborhoods and commercial corridors throughout the City of Seattle (the “City”), including Wallingford, Fremont, Beacon Hill, Ravenna, and West Seattle […]
Seattle Hearing Examiner Rules Against the City’s Proposed Legislation to Allow Construction of More Backyard Cottages and Mother-in-Law Apartments in Single Family Zones
On December 13, 2016, the City of Seattle Hearing Examiner ruled that the City of Seattle must perform an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before moving forward with proposed legislation that would ease restrictions on the construction of accessory dwelling units and detached accessory dwelling units. Accessory dwelling units, commonly referred to as ADUs or mother-in-law apartments, […]
Marketing Materials May Create Binding Covenants
A new Washington Supreme Court case may have implications for brokers who market properties containing community amenities such as golf courses, clubhouses, swimming pools, and the like.
US Supreme Court Limits Local Government Land Use "Extortion"
On June 25, the United States Supreme Court announced an important decision on the ability of local governments to extract environmental (and presumably other) mitigations from private developers seeking land use entitlements. The case, known as Koontz v. St. John’s River Water Management District, severely limits this practice.
Legislature Update: Land Use
The 2013 Washington State Legislature wrestled with an 800 pound gorilla – education funding – and adjourned without reaching consensus on that issue. But in the process, several new laws passed that are relevant to those who are in land use or real estate.