Tukwila: Title 17 Amendments
City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson

Tukwila: Title 17 Amendments

The City of Tukwila has initiated a code amendment proposal to revise regulations within Title 17 of the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) concerning land division and street improvements. This effort is driven by the necessity to integrate these standards with newly proposed provisions for middle housing within residential zoning districts. These policy changes will apply city-wide, and public notification was disseminated through the Seattle Times and the City of Tukwila website on April 10, 2025. An environmental review will be completed before the City Council's consideration of these amendments.

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Tukwila: Title 18 Amendments
City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson

Tukwila: Title 18 Amendments

The City of Tukwila has proposed comprehensive amendments to Title 18 of the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) to comply with recent state legislation, most notably HB 1110 concerning middle housing, with a compliance deadline of June 30, 2025. Scheduled for a hearing on April 24, 2025, under file numbers L25-0032 and E25-0009, these updates aim to streamline regulations and foster housing development that aligns with community objectives. The notification of this hearing was published in the Seattle Times and on the city's website on April 10, 2025. An environmental determination will precede City Council consideration.

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Tukwila: Phased Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIPs)
City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson

Tukwila: Phased Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIPs)

The City of Tukwila is proposing an amendment to its regulations regarding phased Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIPs). Currently, the city mandates that developers utilizing phased BSIPs execute a development agreement in addition to the BSIP itself. This requirement, found in Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 17.16.030(C), has been identified by city staff as redundant, burdensome, and inconsistent with practices in comparable jurisdictions.

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Tukwila: STEP Housing
City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson

Tukwila: STEP Housing

Washington State's HB 1220, passed in 2021, significantly impacted local regulations concerning "STEP Housing," encompassing emergency shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing. This legislation aimed to reduce restrictions on siting these crucial housing types. The law defines each STEP Housing type, clarifying distinctions between them and other similar facilities like group homes or assisted living. It explicitly excludes temporary encampments, tiny home villages, and traditional income-restricted housing, among other facility types, from the STEP Housing designation. Following the passage of HB 1220, Tukwila adopted regulations via Ordinance 2658 to align with the state statute. However, at that time, the Department of Commerce hadn't yet issued implementation guidance, nor had King County and the State Office of Financial Management finalized bed allocation numbers for each jurisdiction.

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Tukwila: Restricting Townhomes in Urban Center
City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson City of Tukwila Dustin Thorlakson

Tukwila: Restricting Townhomes in Urban Center

The Tukwila Urban Center, a designated regional growth center within the Puget Sound Regional Council's growth strategy, is striving to increase its density and reduce reliance on cars. This designation makes the area eligible for additional funding to facilitate its transition into a denser, transit-oriented development.

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