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Posts for Steve Butler

Five Approaches to Attract More People to Your Downtown

May 13, 2026  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Downtown Revitalization Series

Clean and safe sidewalks, the presence of public seating, and appealing open public gathering spaces are just a few factors that can help a downtown draw in visitors and serve as a positive centerpiece for the entire community. 

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Inclusionary Zoning: One Tool for Creating Affordable Housing

March 19, 2026  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Housing

Since local governments are not in the business of building housing, how can they address the affordable housing problem? One regulatory tool is inclusionary zoning, which encourages developers to add affordable units in new residential development projects in specified areas.

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Comprehensive Plans’ Housing Elements Under Increased Scrutiny

October 29, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Housing

Will the housing element of your comprehensive plan see increased public scrutiny? Legislative changes to the GMA have added new requirements to the housing element, bringing increased public pressure on cities, towns, and counties to faithfully meet these changes.

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2025 Housing-Related Legislative Outcomes

July 23, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Housing ,  New Legislation and Regulations

The 2025 state legislative session included bills that encourage the development of more housing as well as the preservation of existing affordable housing, generally by building on legislation from prior sessions. 

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From Vacant to Vibrant: Transforming Empty Downtown Storefronts

June 4, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Downtown Revitalization Series ,  Economic Development

Local governments looking to transform empty downtowns can employ a variety of approaches to revitalize these areas, including allowing vacant storefronts to be used for alternative purposes, like art displays, small scale manufacturing, or pop-up commercial installations.

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Updating Local Regulations to Encourage More Accessory Dwelling Units

April 15, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing

Increasing the number of accessory dwelling units can build more housing stock in a community. What changes can agencies make to local zoning codes that might encourage this type of development among homeowners and developers?

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A Local Government’s Role in Regulating Battery Energy Storage Systems

January 29, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Climate and Sustainability ,  Development Regulations and Zoning

With the growing use of battery energy storage systems (BESS), more public and private operators will want to locate these systems in Washington. What can cities and counties learn from Sumner, Arlington, and other early adopters of BESS regulations?

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Battery Energy Storage Systems – Coming Soon to Your Community?

January 22, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Climate and Sustainability ,  Development Regulations and Zoning

Battery energy storage systems offer new ways to store electrical power, and their modular nature means they can be configured to meet many uses. Local governments should determine how to incorporate such facilities into their existing land use codes and regulations.

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An older, multi-unit affordable housing building in Seattle

Protecting Your Community’s “Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing”

September 18, 2024  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing

Within every community exists naturally occurring affordable housing, which can help community members who might otherwise be priced out of a hot local housing market. Local governments can help to preserve this housing through specialized policies and programs.

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Two people look on while a third presents an architectural design

Impending Deadline of January 1 to Address SB 5290’s New Development Timelines

August 7, 2024  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Land Use Administration ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Beginning in 2025, GMA-planning counties and cities must follow new state-based timelines for issuing a final decision on applications for land use review. However, localities can — up to end of this year — adjust their timelines for review (and bypass the state ones).

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Modern, multi-unit residences on city street

The Importance of Housing to Downtown Revitalization

June 5, 2024  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing ,  Downtown Revitalization Series

As part of a broader strategy to revitalize its downtown, a local government can play a significant role in promoting more housing options, making downtown an inviting place to work, play, and live.

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An older man holds a sign in protest of plans for a new stadium

Dealing with Housing Displacement in Your Comprehensive Plan

May 29, 2024  by  Carson Bridges ,  Steve Butler
Category:  Guest Author ,  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Housing

Housing displacement brought about by gentrification can severely disrupt existing neighborhoods. Thanks to legislation in 2021, any GMA-planning local government updating a comprehensive plan must also address and include anti-displacement strategies to protect residents.

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Kids at Vancouver's Esther Short Park

The Importance of Public Space to Downtown Revitalization

April 3, 2024  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Design ,  Parks and Recreation Facilities ,  Downtown Revitalization Series

When looking to revitalize their downtowns, cities and towns can focus on innovative strategies to draw visitors in, such as adding attractive, safe, and enjoyable parks, plazas, and open spaces, or offering programming/recreational activities in existing public spaces.

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New multi-unit construction on empty lot

Using Surplus Public Property to Create New Affordable Housing

January 24, 2024  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing ,  Surplus

Does your agency own surplus property? RCW 39.33.015 allows public agencies to transfer, lease, or dispose of surplus real property to a public, private, or nongovernmental entity at low or no cost if it is for public benefit — and 'public benefit' includes affordable housing.

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Diverse group of seated people participating in a meeting

Comprehensive Planning Tips, with a Focus on Implementation

November 8, 2023  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management

A successful comprehensive plan will help guide community growth for decades into the future. When updating a plan, a local government should focus on using a strong planning process, conducting robust community engagement, and focusing on plan implementation. 

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Major Changes to Washington's Housing Laws

July 19, 2023  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Two of the more significant housing laws adopted this year are HB 1110, which requires certain cities to allow "middle housing" in residential zones, and HB 1337, which requires all GMA-planning cities and counties to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in residential areas.

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Impact Fees — Local Government Do’s and Don’ts

March 22, 2023  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Impact Fees

Impact fees can be used by a local government to help pay for infrastructure costs caused by new development, but there are both complexities and legal requirements an agency should consider before establishing an impact fees program. 

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Infill Housing Approaches: Targeting the Missing Middle and Accessory Dwellings

November 16, 2022  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing

As cities and counties look to expand housing supply in their communities, many are considering infill development, or developing vacant or under-utilized parcels within existing, developed areas. Missing middle housing and accessory dwelling units are two options to consider.

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Increasing Local Housing Supply Through Missing Middle Housing

September 14, 2022  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Housing

Local governments seeking to expand housing options may want to consider a missing middle program that champions use of housing types which may fly under the radar, such as cottage housing, duplexes, and triplexes, alongside more trendy approaches like live-work developments. 

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A New Approach for Dealing with Conditional Uses in Your Zoning Code

August 3, 2022  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Development Regulations and Zoning

Conditional use permits, most often used for certain land uses that might not normally fit into a zoning category but could work if the proposed use meets certain conditions, can be made into a more efficient and effective zoning tool with some modifications. 

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