WA State: HB 1160 Design Review for Housing Development (Proposed)

HB 1160 focuses on streamlining design review processes for housing development permit applications within cities and counties operating under the Growth Management Act (GMA) in Washington state. The bill aims to address the housing crisis by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and increasing predictability in the permitting process.

The core of the legislation limits design review to administrative processes, with exceptions for designated landmarks or historic districts, or when state or federal law mandates additional review. Administrative review requires clear, objective, and ascertainable design standards, ensuring applicants can understand the permissibility of their designs. This means that design review is to be judged by clear rules rather than subjective opinion. The bill also specifies that only one set of architectural drawings of a single design concept can be required during the application review.

The bill clarifies that both cities and counties can use public hearings or design review boards to consider variances or design departures from established standards. This distinction is important, as it separates the standard administrative review from exceptional cases.

The legislation mandates that clear and objective design review standards must include at least one ascertainable standard to determine building permissibility. It also reinstates prohibitions on local governments from requiring density, height, bulk, or scale reductions below zoning district standards.