Transforming Spokane's Housing Landscape: A Closer Look at Two Potential Bills

Last week, I had the unique opportunity to be in Olympia, Washington State's capital, advocating for crucial housing initiatives that could potentially reshape the real estate landscape in Spokane and across Washington. In this blog post, I'll delve into two specific bills that were under discussion during my lobbying efforts and explore how they might revolutionize the housing market.

Bill 1: Administrative Lot Splitting

The first bill centers around administrative lot splitting, a process designed to simplify the creation of new buildable lots for residential use. The aim is to enable homeowners to easily split their existing residential lots into two, providing various advantages for both the current owners and prospective homebuyers.

Key Provisions:

1. Minimum Lot Size: The lot must be at least 1500 square feet, considerably smaller than the average lot size in Spokane.
2. Consistency with Standards: The resulting lots must adhere to minimum review standards, ensuring the new lots align with zoning regulations.
3. No Demolition of Rented Units: If a unit on the lot is rented, any demolition or alteration must wait for 12 months after the unit becomes vacant.
4. Parking and Frontage Requirements: Regulations limit off-street parking to one space per lot and frontage width to 20 feet, streamlining the process and reducing constraints.
5. Easement and Design Standards: Easement widths for access to rear lots are capped at four feet unless specific conditions require otherwise. Additionally, no additional permitting requirements beyond standard single-family homes are allowed.

Bill 2: Rural Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

The second set of bills focuses on rural properties and aims to permit the construction of detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Unlike existing regulations, these bills propose allowing property owners with larger plots, typically found in rural areas, to build additional dwelling units on their land legally.

Potential Impact:

1. Expansion in Rural Areas: The bills, if passed, would allow property owners in rural areas to build detached ADUs on their land, catering to larger families or multiple generations living on a single parcel.
2. Legalization of Existing Structures: The legislation acknowledges the prevalence of illegal structures in rural areas and seeks to address this issue by providing a legal framework for additional dwelling units.

These proposed bills present exciting prospects for Spokane's real estate landscape, promising increased flexibility for property owners and potential solutions to challenges like affordable housing and Accessory Dwelling Unit construction. As these bills navigate the legislative process, it's essential for residents, investors, and stakeholders to stay informed and engaged in discussions that could significantly impact the city's housing future.