Growth Management Planning Council

Survey Results - June 14, 2000

Background:

At the March 2000 GMPC Housing Retreat, the participants identified several action items for jurisdictions to consider and adopt that would help in the provision of affordable housing. The nine action items, along with detailed descriptions, were sent out to the jurisdictions in early May. The 40 jurisdictions in King County were asked to respond by indicating which actions have been adopted by the jurisdictions.

Survey Response:

Of the 40 jurisdictions surveyed in King County, 25 responses were received. The 25 jurisdictions represent 91.53% of the total countywide population.

Table 1 summarizes all the responses received from the jurisdictions by each of the 9 action items.

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Table 2 summarizes each of the actions by type of response and by the number of jurisdictions with the corresponding population percentage of the countywide total. The first number represents the number of jurisdictions that responded and the second number represents the percentage of the countywide population those jurisdictions represent.

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An example from Table 2 is Question 6 - adopt provisions that allow Assessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Under answer 1 ("Yes Our Community Has Done This"), we find that 18 of the jurisdictions representing 84.58% of the total Countywide population have done this. The jurisdictions that responded have adopted regulatory processes for ADU's. However, the survey did not measure whether these regulations are being implemented or the complexity of the regulations.

Conclusions/Observations:

"Yes our Community has done this": Many of the jurisdictions have adopted regulations that allow shared parking (20), accessory dwelling units (18); and have or support public/private partnerships (12) in providing affordable housing.

"Our Community is in the process of doing this": Several of the jurisdictions responded that they are working on adoption of a programmatic EIS process (5); strategies that promote a jobs/housing balance (5); and creating or supporting public/private partnerships (5).

"Something We Might Do But Aren't Working On Right Now": The responding jurisdictions also identified the following as future possible actions; modifying UBC regulations to allow wood frame construction in excess of 4 stories (7); public education campaign (7); adopting a programmatic EIS process (5); and pursuing or supporting strategies that promote a Jobs/Housing balance (5).

"Pursuing or supporting developer pairing": This particular action item was a new issue for many of the jurisdictions (15).

"This is not applicable in our community": Many jurisdictions indicated in their survey that because of limited staff resources, limited land area, or other circumstances, it would be difficult or not applicable for them to adopt some of the actions items for their community.

Survey Responses, June 2000

>>View Survey Responses:
Housing Status Survey Responses by Jurisdiction