Jess Bateman
@jessdbateman.bsky.social
WA State senator 22nd district. Let’s build livable, walkable communities. 🏘️
In Bainbridge Island right now, the state Department of Commerce is telling city officials that if they don't adopt a compliant growth plan by August 21 (24 days from now) then the Builder's Remedy will go into effect. Bainbridge Island isn't on track for that deadline and asked for an extension.
We are three and a half weeks from a builders’ remedy going into effect in Bainbridge Island, WA. Developers will be able to entitle projects of unlimited size and density, even above and beyond local zoning, as long as they rent a portion of the units at the following rates:
Spokane Rising@spokanerising.com · last wk.Bainbridge falls into the Kitsap County AMI area, so 100% AMI is $90,800 for a single-person household or $129,600 for a family of four. So these are the rents that would apply to builders’ remedy projects (again, either 20% of units at 60% AMI or 100% at 120% AMI):
A 5-4 Seattle City Council vote yesterday means city-level appeals that have delayed significant citywide zoning changes in the past will be extinguished. Conventional appeal options to Superior Court or the state growth hearings board will remain. Story: www.theurbanist.org/seattle-coun...
Seattle Council Reins In Growth Plan Appeals in Narrow Vote
The 5-4 vote means city-level appeals that have delayed significant citywide zoning changes in the past will instead be directed to Superior Court of a state growth hearings board. The proposal had pr...
theurbanist.org
Rob Saka has a proposed amendment to the SEPA bill on deck for tomorrow that would completely gut the bill, retaining the right of administrative appeal but requiring the hearing examiner to "expedite review" of those appeals. It really just gives them less time to do the same work.
This is literally why we can’t have nice things. Our housing shortage is a policy choice. We should change it.
Matt Hutchins AIA@matthutchins.bsky.social · last wk.Seattle's critical comprehensive plan, a process that so far has taken 5 years, cost millions of dollars, hinges on whether every single person who has a spare $120 to file an appeal is satisfied that every potential, even marginal, impact is fully studied. The EIS was 3047 pages, but not adequate.
Seattle's critical comprehensive plan, a process that so far has taken 5 years, cost millions of dollars, hinges on whether every single person who has a spare $120 to file an appeal is satisfied that every potential, even marginal, impact is fully studied. The EIS was 3047 pages, but not adequate.
Please join tomorrow as City Council considers CB 121215 - legislation related to SEPA appeals. Public comment starts at 2 PM. There have been lots of questions, misunderstandings, and misinformation about this legislation. See FAQs here: council.seattle.gov/2026/07/24/f...
FAQs on Councilmember Lin's legislation related to SEPA appeals - Seattle City Council Blog
Council Bill 121215, my legislation related to SEPA appeals, will expedite Seattle’s ability to address our most pressing issues, from mitigating climate change to building more homes. If we work toge...
council.seattle.gov
We can have livable, walkable communities and we must have the courage to make them a reality. This is what leadership looks like.
Councilmember Eddie Lin@cmeddielin.bsky.social · 2w agoFirst up, our OpEd. There’s much more to say, but I wanted to highlight the importance of political courage when it comes to making the choices we know are needed to address affordability and climate change and to redesign our city around people instead of cars. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/this...
CM Eddie Lin responds to the attacks in the Seattle Times on the idea of SEPA reform in an op-ed this morning. "Dense housing, walkable neighborhoods, and safe, accessible transit is how we can finally address our affordability crisis and build a more resilient and equitable city."
Lin is a leader and understands the stakes. I wholly support his effort to focus SEPA on real issues, rather than being a capricious cudgel deployed cynically by individuals looking to penalize new housing.
Ryan Packer@typewriteralley.bsky.social · 2w agoCM Eddie Lin responds to the attacks in the Seattle Times on the idea of SEPA reform in an op-ed this morning. "Dense housing, walkable neighborhoods, and safe, accessible transit is how we can finally address our affordability crisis and build a more resilient and equitable city."
The audacity of SEPA is that you can only study impacts, and some are not even environmental. Shadows? Views? SEPA can measure the increase in carbon or VMT from infill development, but not state the decrease per capita as a benefit Tighten SEPA: habitatforhumanityseattle.quorum.us/campaign/164...
Habitat for Humanity Seattle
Habitat for Humanity Seattle
habitatforhumanityseattle.quorum.us
The project on the left is completely through environmental review and is approved to move into construction and the project on the right needs more environmental analysis, everything is working great.
I am teaching a 2 credit graduate course on housing policy this fall. If anyone has recommendations on comparative approaches/case studies/data or reading recommendations let me know!
Perversely, SEPA, like CEQA in California, is responsible for untold damage to the environment. When NIMBYs use it to gum up the process -- and that's almost always how it's used -- the result is more cars, more driving, more sprawl, more pollution, more greenhouse gases, more environmental damage.
Councilmember Eddie Lin@cmeddielin.bsky.social · 4w agoA bike lane and hundreds of affordable homes in Magnolia have both been delayed since 2008 thanks in significant part to SEPA. Getting people out of cars and building new affordable housing in the City are both good for the environment!
A bike lane and hundreds of affordable homes in Magnolia have both been delayed since 2008 thanks in significant part to SEPA. Getting people out of cars and building new affordable housing in the City are both good for the environment!
Ryan Packer@typewriteralley.bsky.social · 4w agoAfter this article was published today, the WA Court of Appeals handed Seattle and Cascade Bicycle Club another L in their legal battle over the Missing Link.
@jessdbateman.bsky.social says it all: "[These] seven outstanding designs, once permit-ready, can be built across our state. I’m proud to see WA leading the way & I congratulate the winning teams whose work will help open the door to homeownership...” starterhomeplan.org/news/winners...
Seven Winners Announced in Townhouse Design Competition — WA Starter Home Plan
Seven floor plans have been selected as winners in the Washington Starter Home Plan’s Townhouse Design Competition. These winning designs are part of the Starter Home Plan’s effort to increase product...
starterhomeplan.org
Monday's Most Read # 3 - Yes, a Land Value Tax Is Possible in Washington State link.theoverheadwire.com/e4h96 Sightline Institute @sightline.org
Yes, a Land Value Tax Is Possible in Washington State | Sightline Institute
A new report modeling a property tax building exemption in Spokane rebalances incentives toward community goals, encouraging homebuilding and discouraging in-city vacant land speculation.
link.theoverheadwire.com
Spokane Councilmember Klitzke is leading the charge for state legislation that would authorize the equivalent of a land value tax: “A property tax that exempts buildings and shifts the burden onto land would give us a new and powerful tool to fill in our gaps while keeping Spokane affordable.”
Most Spokane homeowners would pay less tax under reform proposal. Here's who would pay more
Some Spokane politicians want to replace the existing property tax system with one that shifts tax burden from homes, apartments and many commercial properties and place it instead onto parking lots ...
spokesman.com
BREAKING: The Washington Court of Appeals has found in favor of the two groups challenging the environmental review of Seattle's Comprehensive Plan, finding that both King County Superior Court and the city's Hearing Examiner erred in dismissing the appeal at earlier stages.
I think a lot about the @jerusalem.bsky.social article from 2024 describing the schism in environmentalism between "crisis greens" and "cautious greens." That struggle continues, and the consequences of rulings like this will be more sprawl, more pollution, and cities that are less affordable.
Ryan Packer@typewriteralley.bsky.social · 2mo agoBREAKING: The Washington Court of Appeals has found in favor of the two groups challenging the environmental review of Seattle's Comprehensive Plan, finding that both King County Superior Court and the city's Hearing Examiner erred in dismissing the appeal at earlier stages.
I am a liberal and a Democrat and I 100% favor the legalization of much more housing construction in all neighborhoods. To limit urban sprawl and VMT, you have to allow urban housing infill in job-rich places. Don't take it from me, take it from Bill McKibben. moreneighborswnc.org/uncategorize...
Bill McKibben on Why Progressives Need to Say “Yes” to Housing and Clean Energy - Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC
It's time for progressives to say yes to clean energy and affordable housing. Bill McKibben explains why tackling the climate and housing crises means supporting the right kinds of development.
moreneighborswnc.org
Weaponizing environmental concerns to prevent people from living in our urban environments isn’t new. It’s deployed by people with resources to restrict access to high opportunity areas. It’s nimbyism. In order to reach our housing goals, our land use processes must stop enabling this behavior.
'Orca Appeal': A science nerd's challenge to Seattle's building plan
As City Hall continues to roll out the biggest remaking in Seattle's history, one musician challenges the underlying science. It is the story of our time.
seattletimes.com
Happy Birthday to the Parking Reform & Modernization Act! 🎂 @jessdbateman.bsky.social www.sightline.org/2026/05/07/w...
Washington State’s Parking Reform Is Already Working | Sightline Institute
Cities are laying the groundwork for more homes thanks to new flexibility on parking—with other states taking note.
sightline.org
This is why we can’t have nice things. Weaponizing environmental law to prevent a grocery store in an already existing building is the epitome of NIMBYism & demonstrates the flaws in our legal system.
Erica C. Barnett@ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 4mo agoSeattle's powerful hearing examiner just thwarted a needed grocery store because the city compared the potential environmental impact of a new Winco to the building's previous use as a store—rather than its current "use" as a vacant building. Perverse logic. www.seattletimes.com/business/rea...
If you want to call in, you've gotta sign up for the morning session, starting at 8:30am. The 3pm session is reserved for in-person comment. www.seattle.gov/council/meet...
Public Comment - Council | seattle.gov
Sign up to make public comment for items appear on Seattle City Council agendas
seattle.gov
Shirley Leung, PhD@shirleyswirley.bsky.social · 4mo agoEveryone ready for Seattle Comp Plan rally and public comment tomorrow?! Give comment AND send these 2 action letters!! They also have talking points if you need them! APARTMENTS ON QUIET STREETS & NEXT TO PARKS NOW! LFG!!! actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-... actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
King County housing levy could be on deck...
Doug Trumm@metropolitanglide.bsky.social · 4mo agoToday, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced an exploratory committee to run a countywide housing levy to boost affordable housing and shelter production. At the Housing Development Consortium luncheon, he pledged to work with them to craft the package.
Happy to see the Mayor of Washington’s largest city embracing pro-housing strategies! It’s about time.👏👏👏
Erica C. Barnett@ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 4mo agoAt the Housing Development Consortium's annual event, Mayor Katie Wilson just announced that the city will "revisit the original phases three and four" of the comprehensive plan "to be far more aggressive with our timeline and scope."
We are on the last day of our Spring Member Drive, and we just want to say thank you to everyone who’s already stepped up to support The Urbanist—your support is what allows us to grow our team and expand our reporting. If you’ve been meaning to give, now’s the time to become a member:
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theurbanist.org
Hooray for housing! @governorferguson.bsky.social signed HB 2266, HB 6026, and HB 1345 (among others!) into law today 🎉🏠 Let's hear it for more critical housing types everywhere!! #waleg
Not much attention this year on HB 2418, but @davina425.bsky.social seems to have a quiet yet powerful housing bill every session and this one was sent to the Governor's desk tonight. app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
