Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate

OLYMPIA… The state Senate has passed legislation from Sen. Keith Goehner that would give 10 counties, including Chelan and Douglas counties, an additional six months to review and revise their comprehensive plans.

The extension proposed under Senate Bill 5558 would also apply to cities in those counties.

“This is consistent with extensions granted to other counties in recent years, including King and Snohomish, which are partly in our legislative district along with most of Chelan,” said Goehner.

The bipartisan bill, which is now before the House Local Government Committee also contains requirements related to building design rules and rules for accessory dwelling units, design review standards, and minimum development densities in residential zones.

“Besides extending the planning deadline, I’m glad to see the support for middle housing – meaning the duplexes, townhouses and others that fall between single-family homes and multi-story apartment complexes,” Goehner said.

“The shortage of housing in our state isn’t just in urban and suburban areas; we need more supply in rural areas as well, and middle housing is part of the solution.”

The 49-0 votes moves the bill House of Representatives for further consideration.

For more information on Goehner’s legislative work, visit keithgoehner.src.wastateleg.org.

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