Coalition Announces 2023 Policy Platform, Shares Priorities with Legislators
Building on its housing work in 2022, the Coalition for More Housing Choices has adopted a policy platform for 2023 to guide its advocacy in the state legislature and in the Puget Sound region. The Coalition shared the following priorities in a letter to Puget Sound legislators earlier today.
Local Planning for More Housing—Support state-level legislation allowing more “middle” home choices, such as backyard cottages, duplexes, triplexes, stacked flats, townhouses and courtyard apartments - in addition to single-family detached homes. Support local governments to take bold action in their upcoming updates to their Growth Management Act comprehensive plans and housing development regulations to include these “middle” housing types by advocating for legislative efforts that create incentives and accountability for local governments to do so. This will help local jurisdictions to better meet their housing targets while creating more housing choices of all types for Washington families.
Transit-Oriented Development—Support legislative efforts giving local governments tools to facilitate housing around transit centers that is affordable to a range of income levels and is inclusive and equitable in its design. This could include housing benefit districts or other tools to facilitate land acquisition and station planning, or tools that otherwise expand much-needed housing alongside transit routes.
Black Homeownership—Support legislative efforts to meet the goal of increasing Black homeownership, such as expanding funding for affordable homeownership, increasing the supply of and access to affordable entry-level, market-rate homes for first-time homebuyers, and developing anti-displacement strategies. These objectives are informed directly by the Coalition’s participation in the Black Home Initiative Policy Workgroup, Recommendations from the Homeownership Disparities Work Group, and the Seven-Point Plan to Increase Black Homeownership in the Puget Sound Region.
Streamline Permitting—Support legislation to address permit backlogs and streamline permitting systems, enabling a more predictable, accountable and transparent permit process. This would reduce unnecessary costs on new housing and help local communities facilitate more housing choices of all types.
As the 2023 Legislative Session gets underway next week, the Coalition looks forward to supporting efforts within these priorities. The Coalition would like to thank our partners in this work, and we are excited for the year ahead.