Key facts
- Washington state lawmakers toured the Tri-Cities region to see housing cost barriers.
- The tour focused on fees, lengthy permitting, and regulatory hurdles.
- Lt. Gov. Denny Heck emphasized the impact of policy decisions on housing development.
- State energy codes and wildfire-hardening requirements add about $15,000 to a 1,100-square-foot home.
- Expanding urban growth area boundaries is seen as a way to increase land availability and lower housing costs.
- Mitigation requirements for shrub-steppe vegetation could cost an estimated $100,000 on a 10-acre parcel.
Washington state and local lawmakers participated in a bus tour of the Tri-Cities region on October 1 to gain a firsthand understanding of the obstacles hindering housing supply expansion. Hosted by the Tri-City Development Council, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, the tour focused on how fees, protracted permitting processes, and regulatory complexities increase housing costs.
Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, among the more than 50 participants, emphasized the value of field visits for policymakers to see how their decisions impact housing development. He noted that the tour revealed how policies were preventing potential housing sites from being utilized.
The tour included stops that detailed the cost inputs for building homes, such as land, infrastructure, labor, materials, and financing, as well as the expenses associated with delays and reviews. Deborah Flagan, Vice President of Community Engagement at Hayden Homes, highlighted that state-level energy codes and wildfire-hardening requirements can add approximately $15,000 to the cost of a 1,100-square-foot home, citing the need for specialized materials and defensible space.
Discussions also revolved around policy solutions, including expanding urban growth area boundaries. Participants examined build-ready land just outside current boundaries that could accommodate thousands of homes but cannot be developed. Representatives like April Connors pointed out that strict urban growth area limits restrict land availability, driving up costs, and that expanding these boundaries can be difficult. The tour also addressed challenges like shrub-steppe vegetation on vacant parcels, which can trigger costly mitigation requirements, estimated at $3,000 per home on a 10-acre site.
Another stop explored the use of state-owned land for affordable housing. A bill introduced by Rep. April Connors aims to allow the Department of Natural Resources to lease surplus land for housing serving households earning 80% to 115% of area median income, potentially reducing land costs for homeowners. The tour concluded by focusing on workforce development needs in the construction trades to meet projected housing demand.