FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nona Raybern, PR & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.457.7067
m 425.208.6308

Housing Choices Toolkit Released to Assist With Local Planning

Toolkit offers proven policies to help create more housing choices so current residents, newcomers, and future generations can find a home that best fits their lives

BELLEVUE, Wash—August 19, 2020—Today, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) released a toolkit designed to help local communities create more housing choices.

As the Puget Sound region advances its collective response to the health, economic, and social crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic, those in the local homebuilding industry stand with their fellow community members. In creating and distributing this Housing Toolkit, MBAKS continues its collaborative approach to encourage the creation of more housing and more variety.

“Our region has for years been grappling with a housing crisis, and the pandemic and related economic crisis have significantly amplified the need for solutions that create more diverse and affordable housing choices for all,” said MBAKS Executive Director Kat Sims.

“We are often asked by local governments and community leaders for actionable ideas and solutions to plan for and enable more housing choices that fit the unique needs of each community. We are providing this toolkit in a spirit of partnership so cities and counties may more easily find a spectrum of proven housing policies and see which of their neighboring communities are already implementing these ideas.”

The MBAKS Housing Toolkit contains 37 specific code updates and process improvements jurisdictions can take to help provide more diverse, more affordable housing for our growing population. The toolkit is intended to serve the unique local needs of individual communities, help protect what current residents already love about our region and support the broader regional effort to plan for more housing choices.

Regulations and long permit timelines can create significant obstacles for those seeking housing by driving up costs and pushing new homes even further out of reach for many buyers and renters. There are, however, simple steps cities and counties can take today to help ease some of these regulatory burdens and reduce certain cost pressures on new housing without compromising environmental protections or other important policy goals.

All the tools featured in the toolkit can be adopted locally. None of them require state-enabling legislation. Included throughout the toolkit are examples of local jurisdictions already utilizing these tools and model codes that cities can reference. Some examples include policies that support accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family zones, reduced parking requirements near transit, planning tools that facilitate infill development, video inspections, more transparency in permit timeline data, Built Green incentives, and affordable housing levies.

The MBAKS Housing Toolkit also includes a chart indicating the effectiveness of each measure to facilitate housing.

View the Housing Toolkit

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders association. Like our founders, our members continue to take a leading role in all facets of homebuilding and support the planning for a growing region. From new technology to advances in sustainability and from collaborative public policy efforts to investing in our communities, our commitment to a thriving, inclusive, and well-planned region never wavers. We are the professional homebuilders, architects, remodelers, tradespeople (carpenters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians), planners and engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who believe everyone deserves access to a healthy and productive place to call home.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sharon Couts
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.499.1723

Master Builders Association Hires Kathleen Sims, Former Weyerhaeuser Executive, as its New Executive Director

Bellevue, Wash—March 1, 2018—The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) announced the selection of Kathleen (Kat) Sims as its new executive director. Sims is the first woman to lead the association in its 109-year history. As the former vice president of environmental affairs, sustainability, and corporate responsibility of Weyerhaeuser Company, she is an influential leader accustomed to the building industry. She begins her new role Monday, March 5.

“Kat’s depth and breadth of experience as an executive, real estate attorney, and coalition builder will be a tremendous asset for our association,” said Erich Armbruster, the association’s board president. “She will be an excellent representative for Master Builders Association as we expand our influence with regional leaders in addressing the growth and critical housing issues facing our region. I could not be more pleased that such an exceptional leader is taking the helm.”

Sims is a seasoned attorney specializing in real estate law, with more than 10 years of in-house business management expertise. Prior to her most recent position at Weyerhaeuser, Sims worked as vice president of government affairs at Plum Creek Timber Company Inc., which merged with Weyerhaeuser in 2016. She also served as senior director of sustainability and senior director, real estate law at Plum Creek. Early in her career, Sims was a partner at Alston, Courtnage & Bassetti LLP and an associate attorney at Foster, Pepper & Shefelman LLP (now Foster Pepper), where she provided strategic legal advice to developers, landowners, and lenders.

“Developing adequate housing is vital to the health of our region and the Master Builders Association needs to be at the table as discussions are made that impact housing availability,” said Sims. “I’m looking forward to forging new partnerships and locking arms with the association’s leadership, members, and staff to help solve critical issues affecting our communities.”

“Having an opportunity to engage an experienced leader with Kathleen’s credentials is a terrific outcome for our association,” said Mike Walsh, MBAKS 2017 board president and head of the executive search committee.  “Kat has sound judgement and common sense and will be an effective voice for Master Builders Association.”

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With nearly 3,000 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, housing advocacy, community service, and financial stewardship throughout the Puget Sound region.

###

On November 19, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Langbehn issued a final decision in a lawsuit challenging Initiative 24-03. The lawsuit was brought by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, together with several of its homebuilder members and other businesses operating in Everett and Snohomish County. The initiative, sponsored by Standing for Nature, was approved by Everett voters in the November 2024 general election. Consequently, the City of Everett was the named defendant in the lawsuit. However, the city agreed with MBAKS that Initiative 24-03 exceeded local initiative powers and “undermines all of the efforts of the City to protect the environment without shutting down all development and industry within the City.”

Judge Langbehn, in her ruling on MBAKS’s motion to declare Initiative 24-03 invalid, agreed with MBAKS and the city. She confirmed that under state law “[t]his initiative’s provisions are directly contrary to the water rights system established by the State and is outside the scope of the City’s authority.” Judge Langbehn therefore concluded that “Plaintiffs are entitled to a declaratory judgment that Initiative 24-03 exceeds the scope of the local initiative power and is therefore invalid.”

This is an important win for housing, the environment, and the community. “As a trade association with members proudly building homes in the City of Everett, we are grateful that the Judge Langbehn affirmed the position we fought for with city officials and local businesses that Initiative 24-03 is invalid,” said Jerry Hall, executive director of MBAKS. “Homebuilding must already adhere to strict local and state regulations that protect our water, air, and land. We know that environmental protection and housing are not competing goals, they depend on each other. The invalidation of Initiative 24-03 allows this existing framework to continue working as intended. We filed suit because it was necessary to protect the public’s best interest and ensure that our shared values of environmental stewardship are upheld as new homes are built and existing homes are remodeled for current residents, newcomers, and future generations.”

Under the laws governing local initiatives, City of Everett officials acted consistently with their obligation to put Initiative 24.03 before voters once the required number of signatures was verified. State law does not permit the city to consider whether the content of Initiative 24-03 complies with local initiative powers when determining ballot eligibility. As a result, the initiative appeared on the November 2024 ballot in Everett. Following the election, MBAKS asked the Snohomish County Superior Court to invalidate the unlawful initiative.