HB 1517 – Transit-oriented development

Promoting transit-oriented development.

Sponsors: Reed, Taylor, Ramel, Berg, Peterson, Stonier, Walen, Wylie, Simmons, Fitzgibbon, Chapman, Berry, Slatter, Mena, Barkis, Rule, Duerr, Gregerson, Chambers, Bateman, Cortes, Doglio, Pollet, Low, Fosse, Tharinger

Status: DEAD

Summary

• Establishes that cities planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) may not enact or enforce any new development regulation within a station area or station hub that prohibits the siting of multifamily residential housing on parcels where any other residential use is permissible, with some exceptions.
• Establishes that cities planning under the GMA may not enact or enforce any new development regulation within a station area or station hub that imposes a maximum floor area ratio of less than the applicable transitoriented density for any use otherwise permitted, or imposes a maximum residential density, measured in residential units per acre or other metric of land area.
• Provides that, to encourage transit-oriented development and transit use and resulting substantial environmental benefits, counties and cities planning under GMA may not require off-street parking as a condition of permitting development within a station area.
• Requires the Department of Transportation to provide technical assistance and establish grant programs.
• Expands the categorical exemption for infill development to facilitate the timely and certain deployment of sustainable transit-oriented development.