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Posts for Leonard Bauer

Expanded Housing Options for Counties Thanks to Two 2026 Bills

May 6, 2026  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Housing ,  Rural Uses ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Two new bills make it easier to develop more affordable housing options in rural areas of counties while also protecting rural character and natural resources. Counties should work to ensure that this new housing serves long-term and not short-term rental needs.

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Private Covenants and Local Zoning: Dual or Dueling Land Use Regulations?

March 11, 2026  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Housing ,  Land Use Administration ,  Subdivisions and Planned Developments

Private land use restrictions can pose challenges for local governments when they conflict with local zoning, hinder affordable housing efforts, or reflect discriminatory practices. However, private covenants should not deter local governments from permitting development.

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Yes, You Can! Revitalizing Downtowns Through Brownfields Cleanup and Reuse

December 10, 2025  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Development Types ,  Downtown Revitalization Series

Brownfields are properties that may have environmental contamination, which can hamper private development, depress property values, or present health hazards. Redevelopment of such properties has also spurred economic development efforts in Spokane, Port Orchard, and elsewhere.

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Soccer May Bring 750,000 to Washington Next Year. Is Your Short-Term Rental Program Ready?

October 8, 2025  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Tourism ,  Licensing and Regulation ,  World Cup 2026

Next summer, fans will gather in the Pacific Northwest and in Fan Zones statewide to watch their favorite team during the 2026 World CupTM.  Cities, towns, and counties can plan for (and benefit from) this tourist influx, in part, with a robust short-term rental program.

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2025 Legislation Affecting Local Government Planning

August 5, 2025  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Administration ,  Parking ,  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Housing ,  Transportation and Land Use ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Several bills from 2025 will impact local government planning, addressing topics as diverse as periodic update deadlines, local parking requirements, and historic landmark property designation.

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Adopting SEPA Exemptions May Help Implement Your Comprehensive Plan

June 18, 2025  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Housing ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Local governments looking to promote development that implements their comprehensive plans should consider adopting categorical or optional exemptions from the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) for certain types of projects. 

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Indoor of a green building under construction

Office-to-Housing Conversion Adds Vibrancy to Downtowns

April 2, 2025  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Housing ,  Downtown Revitalization Series

With downtowns still struggling to regain pre-COVID occupancy rates, some are wondering whether office-to-residential conversions can provide housing and bring people back. Can local governments remove some of the obstacles and adopt incentives that spur this type of development?

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Want More Affordable Housing? Reducing Infrastructure Costs Could Help

December 31, 2024  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Housing ,  Impact Fees ,  Utilities

With affordable housing as a top priority for communities across the state, local governments can reduce costs related to development fees and reconsider infrastructure requirements to encourage the development of housing projects affordable to all income levels. 

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2 women apply for a permit at a counter

Tips for Timely and Predictable Local Government Permitting

October 9, 2024  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Land Use Administration

Timely, predictable, and transparent permit processes are key to achieving local economic, housing, and environmental protection goals, and help build trust in government. Such processes can be improved in a number of ways, from jargon-free documents to ongoing staff training.

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MRSC Welcomes Leonard Bauer as a Planning Consultant

July 17, 2024  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  MRSC News and Updates

His college stints made him both a Cougar and a Duck at different times, but don’t let that stop you from reaching out to our newest planning consultant, Leonard Bauer, for guidance on topics ranging from the GMA to community engagement, missing middle housing, and much more.

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Expanding Affordable Housing Options Through Missing Middle Housing

May 17, 2021  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Guest Author ,  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Housing

Part 1 of this two-part blog series looks at how a missing middle housing program can bring new affordable housing options to a city, using case studies from Wenatchee, Orting, Lake Stevens, Fife, and Walla Walla.

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Finding ‘Missing Middle’ Housing, Part 2

April 18, 2019  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Guest Author ,  Housing

The second of a 2-part series looking at the City of ​Olympia’s 2-year experience to encourage the growth of missing middle housing. Part 2 covers lessons learned. 

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Finding ‘Missing Middle’ Housing, Part 1

March 28, 2019  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Guest Author ,  Housing

This 2-part series looks at the City of ​Olympia’s 2-year experience to encourage the growth of missing middle housing. Part 1 examines the formal processes the city undertook, including the creation of a 16-member workgroup to study the issue.

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