Archive for February 2025
Issues & Impacts Q4 2024
Issues & Impacts Q4 2024 Back to News Center February 4, 2025 Issues & Impacts is a quarterly publication produced by Seattle King County REALTORS® to inform members about current issues and successes within the Government Affairs Department. IN THIS ISSUE: PSRC Leveraging Federal Funds to Limit New Housing Lot-Splitting Gaining Ground in Comprehensive Plans…
Read MorePSRC Leveraging Federal Funds to Limit New Housing
PSRC Leveraging Federal Funds to Limit New Housing Back to News Center February 4, 2025 At an annual joint meeting of the City of Black Diamond, The City of Enumclaw and the Enumclaw School District, Black Diamond Mayor Carol Benson disclosed that her city had to reduce the amount of housing it planned in its…
Read MoreLot-Splitting Gaining Ground in Comprehensive Plans
Lot-Splitting Gaining Ground in Comprehensive Plans Back to News Center February 4, 2025 As cities and King County neared final votes on compressive plans, Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR) encouraged increased zoned densities through meetings with elected officials, letters, and public testimony. In many jurisdictions, the opposition to upzones was fierce. SKCR’s voice was an…
Read MoreFederal Way Major Crime Rates Down
Federal Way Major Crime Rates Down Back to News Center February 4, 2025 Issues related to public safety and crime came to a head a few years ago when three apparently unrelated high-profile murders occurred in Federal Way within 24 hours. Some commenters blamed concentrations of multifamily housing for the deaths. Others thought efforts to…
Read MoreSeattle Not Levying New Taxes to Fill Budget Gap
Seattle Not Levying New Taxes to Fill Budget Gap Back to News Center February 4, 2025 Seattle King County REALTORS® has been engaged in the Seattle budget process to ensure the record general fund budget deficits of $251 million in 2025 and $498 million in 2026 were not closed by levying new taxes. We commented…
Read MoreBlack Diamond Lifts Cannabis Moratorium
Black Diamond Lifts Cannabis Moratorium Back to News Center February 4, 2025 Effective January 1, 2025, the city of Black Diamond lifted its moratorium on new retail cannabis establishments. The moratorium had been in place since 2013. The effort to lift the ban began in January of last year in response to a proposal by…
Read MoreRenton Comprehensive Plan Update Approved
Renton Comprehensive Plan Update Approved Back to News Center February 4, 2025 At its final meeting of 2024, the Renton City Council approved the state-mandated update of its comprehensive plan to guide and facilitate the city’s growth over the next 20 years. The changes are intended to accommodate 17,000 new housing units and almost 32,000…
Read MoreKent Voters Approve Levy with REALTORS® Support
Kent Voters Approve Levy with REALTORS® Support Back to News Center February 4, 2025 On election night in November, the Kent School District’s ballot proposition was losing with just 49.11% of the vote. Because it was a levy, and not a bond, 50% approval is required for passage. When all the votes were tallied, it…
Read MoreNo Increase to SeaTac Property Taxes
No Increase to SeaTac Property Taxes Back to News Center February 4, 2025 On November 27, the SeaTac City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance with no increase in the city’s 2025 property tax levy. Additionally, the city chose not to take advantage of the opportunity to increase property taxes based on its “banked…
Read MoreSign Codes Updates
Sign Codes Updates Back to News Center February 4, 2025 Sign code updates are in play in the cities of Bellevue, Lake Forest Parks, and Duvall. Deliberation was paused on that work so comprehensive plans can be completed. We expect work to resume in the first quarter of 2025. Categories Advocacy Education Events Featured Membership…
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