Author | Lightnews

Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 4d

Felt an urge to tap the sign.

(which may or may not have anything to do with recent convos about potential pilot legislation in WA)

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 4d

Back in 2018 I estimated that adding curb bulbouts at every every intersection in Seattle's single-family zones would make room for 160,000 trees. It would also make those intersections safer.

Great to see this idea getting some attention in Coucil.

www.sightline.org/2018/09/06/s...

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 4d

There's a long, long list of good reasons why we should:

MAKE MORE CITY

But at this point in history, creating Ds may be the top one.

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 5d

Everybody's talking about Dem strategy, so here's something to add to the mix.

I start with this premise: The best and most reliable indicator of whether someone will vote red or blue is the density of the place they live. More dense, more likely to be blue, & vice versa.

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 6d

Matt have you published a case study of this building?

I think it would be helpful for people to see the basic specs, like FAR, lot coverage, setbacks etc.

Because any middle housing zoning should allow this building at minimum.

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 6d

Here's the middle housing production report citied in the CBC video:

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/observer/202...

How Common is the “Missing Middle” Housing in Canada?

Discover the rise of Missing Middle housing in Canada’s 6 major cities. Learn how this housing type is addressing affordability, diversity and urban density challenges.

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 6d

Vancouver's lack of middle housing production relative to other Canadian cities illustrates devil's in the details.

One big problem is Vancouver's 2023 middle housing upzone doesn't allow the buildings to be large enough (FAR typically capped at 1.0).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ren...

Vancouver's middle-density housing unable to keep up with other Canadian cities

YouTube video by CBC British Columbia

www.youtube.com

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 6d

Worth repeating:

"Anything that arbitrarily raises the cost of homes even at the high end will have a domino effect that exacerbates the already cutthroat competition for new homes"

Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

Such a bad idea. We have a massive housing shortage in Boston that drives up costs for everyone. Anything that arbitrarily raises the cost of homes even at the high end will have a domino effect that exacerbates the already cutthroat competition for new homes 1/
www.masslive.com/boston/2025/...

Boston councilor proposes higher property taxes on large apartments to help homeowners

"The result would be that residential rates would be lowered across the city as a greater burden of the fixed Proposition 2.5 property tax revenue would fall on corporate landlords rather than on smal...

www.masslive.com

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 6d

Much deserved national recognition for WA's housing abundance superhero @jessdbateman.bsky.social

Jess Bateman @jessdbateman.bsky.social · 6d

Happy to share WA’s experience advancing pro-housing policy with bi-partisan leaders from across the country. Thank you @arnoldventures.bsky.social for organizing this peer learning opportunity. Our housing shortage is a solvable problem. Inspired to see progress happening across the country.🏘️

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 6d

Small apartment buildings can't provide as many homes per acre as large ones, but they have the advantage of being faster and cheaper to build.

And if they were legalized everwhere in cities (as they should be!) the potential for homes is huge.

www.sightline.org/2025/10/28/t...

To Build Fast, Think Small | Sightline Institute

How re-legalizing small apartment buildings would spur the homes city dwellers need now.

www.sightline.org

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 7d

"The leading edge is the ADU market fully developing in most places. And the bleeding edge is tiny homes on wheels,"
said @sightline.org's Alan Durning.

Earlier this year, WA became the first state to take a shot at legalizing mobile dwellings statewide with HB 1443.

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Tinyhouses Are Now LEGAL DWELLINGS! How One Man in Portland, OR is Changing Housing as We Know It

YouTube video by That ADU Guy

www.youtube.com

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 7d

Yet another way in which Portland has been ahead of the curve on housing is its legalization of mobile dwellings.

These stories chronicled by @citizen-cate.bsky.social illustrate why this housing type should be legal everywhere.

WA's got a bill for that...

www.sightline.org/2025/09/11/h...

Homes on Wheels Are Filling a Big Gap in Portland | Sightline Institute

Three personal stories showing how small, affordable, and flexible homes on wheels can provide big solutions for Portland families.

www.sightline.org

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 7d

Just back from a three month sabbatical.

I haven't been keeping up. Is housing legal now?

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jul 15

"less pavement... more corner stores"

When it comes to local zoning reform, it takes herculean political efforts to allow things that most people want.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Why a WA city is removing parking requirements and allowing corner stores

Bothell is about to get "more Bothell," the city's mayor said. The city says updating its municipal code will make living there more affordable and welcoming.

www.seattletimes.com

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jul 15

Sometimes the truth really is this simple:

"A housing tax is a bad way to create housing"

One defense of IZ is that it can enable upzones that wouldn't have been politically feasible otherwise. Unfortunately that comes with the downside of legitimizing bad policy and spreading the cancer.

Inclusionary zoning is a tax on housing

Sometimes, policies have unintended consequences or unforeseen downsides

www.slowboring.com

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jul 15

"In reality, the pro-housing movement aims to unrig the housing market, expand access, bring down prices for consumers, and redistribute power and wealth from the rich to everyone else."

YIMBY is succeeding, so of course it triggers the progressive instinct to unleash the circular firing squad.

Ron Davis @ronpdavis.bsky.social · Jul 14

YIMBY is progressive, populist and antitrust. Not centrist. Not Reaganite.

The Atlantic published my piece and I’ve included a gift link.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

The Biggest Myth About the YIMBY Movement

There’s nothing centrist or conservative about the push to lower housing costs.

www.theatlantic.com

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jul 10

The elected leaders of Bothell, WA, a city of 51k just north of Seattle, rank among the biggest YIMBY heroes nationwide.

There's no lack of evidence that reforms like this are the right thing to do.

But in most cities there's a lack of leadership.

www.theurbanist.org/2025/07/10/b...

Bothell Drops Parking Mandates, Legalizes Neighborhood Corner Stores Citywide » The Urbanist

# Bothell becomes the first city in either King or Snohomish County to fully eliminate off-street parking mandates in order to reduce costs for homebuilding. The move clearly solidifies the city as a ...

www.theurbanist.org

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Reposted by Dan Bertolet

Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · Jun 23

This Oregon bill, the first of its kind in the country that I'm aware of, just passed: 50-2 in the House, 28-2 in the Senate.

A lot will depend on rulemaking, but this opens the door to a Japan-like system where the state defines its own version of lower-density zones.

Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · Jun 13

I'm also excited about HB 2258, which passed the same committee with not just bipartisan but *unanimous* support. It'd pre-approve zoning & building permits for a state-defined catalog of 1-11 unit buildings on standard urban lots.

two great laws that go great together

bsky.app/profile/ande...

Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · Apr 4

2. HB 2258. Gov. @tinakotek.bsky.social is also taking lead, but it originated with the state land use agency.

This bill would let the state pre-approve building & land use permits for a catalog of homes, 1-12 units, on basic urban lots in any jurisdiction.

Call it a comeback.

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jun 5

Oregon led the nation on legalizing middle housing, and is now poised to lead again on improving the standards based on what's been getting built.

Two critical points:

- Allow middle housing with more units to be larger

- Don't burden it with development fees

www.sightline.org/2025/06/04/o...

Oregon’s Zoning Reforms Are Working—But They Need Some Upgrades | Sightline Institute

Six years after a monumental rezone, Gov. Kotek's HB 2138 will fill the gaps to more fully legalize starter homes.

www.sightline.org

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jun 3

In Vancouver a big chunk of the city's rentals are condos, right @jensvb.bsky.social? Any reason condo HOAs don't limit rentals more like they do in the US?

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jun 3

Thanks.

For a cap, I guess it would have to be first come first serve for people choosing to rent out their units, and it would cut off when the next rental would put the building over 50%. Nothing wrong with that I suppose.

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jun 3

Do you know of any data on the prevalence of owner-occupancy requirements in condos?

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · Jun 2

Connecticut has become the first US state to do what every US state should do:

It has put a total end to costly, arbitrary local requirements for new housing to include parking.

Massive, overdue win for housing and climate, for both people and the planet!

Parking Reform Network @parkingreform.org · Jun 2

🚨BIG NEWS!

The CT Senate passed HB 5002 over the weekend, which fully repeals parking mandates for all residential uses! It's now heading off to the governor's desk!!

Big shoutout to the folks behind ctparkingreform.org @trumbullbrod.bsky.social and Casey Moran

ctmirror.org/2025/05/30/h...

H.B. 5002, Democrats' housing bill, gets final passage

The CT Senate passed the most significant piece of housing legislation to emerge in years after hours of debate.

ctmirror.org

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · May 16

One big reason Washington now leads the pack on statewide housing abundance legislation is that it just passed the nation's strongest parking reform bill.

Here's what made that possible:

www.sightline.org/2025/05/16/h...

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · May 15

I'm calling it:

Washington has now accomplished more on statewide zoning reform than any other US state.

In the just ended 2025 legislative session, Washington lawmakers knocked out nation-leading parking and TOD bills, and more.

www.sightline.org/2025/05/15/w...

Washington Takes Statewide Zoning Reform to the Next Level | Sightline Institute

There’s a healthy competition brewing between states that are taking action for housing abundance. But as of May 2025, Washington leads the pack. Its legislature just passed best-in-the-US bills on bo...

www.sightline.org

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Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · May 8

Yeah, such a shame that Catie was out of town, she was the driving force behind the parking bill.

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