Combined Session - From Urban Design to Pro Formas: An Effective Approach for Bringing HAPs  and Middle Housing to Life Across Washington

Session 5A | Thursday | 2:30 – 3:45 PM (PT)

This session will showcase a multi-disciplinary approach to Housing Action Plan implementation for addressing housing needs across Washington. Experts in urban design, planning, and economics will share urban design analyses, financial feasibility studies, and more that have pushed middle housing forward in Auburn and Lynnwood. Audience members will learn which lot and block characteristics to consider when identifying proper middle housing types, plus how a variety of site and development factors influence the economic viability of construction. This session will also include lessons learned and outcomes of the project from Auburn planning staff, and, to conclude, panelists will discuss the implications of HB 1110.

In one of the most impactful years yet, the Washington State Legislator has passed two house bills each designed to increase middle housing types and densities for counties and cities across Washington.  While HB 1110 requires communities of a certain population to conform to these regulations, HB 1337 is required for all fully planning counties, and cities.  Some communities have already begun to address these requirements by updating their development code to incorporate these changes well before the required deadlines. In this two-part session learn about several communities who have incorporated the requirements of HB 1110 and HB 1337. The challenges, considerations, and the final code. Part two of the session will include small group activities where planners will use 3D printed, missing middle housing models and a base map to visually show how housing types can meet density requirements under the new house bills - think monopoly meets planning.

Tyler Quinn Smith

Tyler brings a background in smart growth, zoning reform, and community planning to his role as a planner and urban designer at Framework. He is driven to help cities create climate-resilient neighborhoods with rich housing diversity and is passionate about urban design principles that make communities feel welcoming and safe to all types of people. Prior to joining Framework in August 2022, Tyler completed his master of urban planning degree with a focus on urban design and housing studies at the University of Washington. Tyler’s experience includes wide-ranging responsibilities at non-profit and private sector planning firms where he has helped cities revise regulatory systems to support aspirations for joyful mixed-use neighborhoods.

SCJ Alliance

Alicia has over a decade of planning experience working in the public and private sector. She is the Business Group Leader and Associate Principal at SCJ Alliance.  Alicia is the lead planner and project manager for clients across Washington State, and she leads SCJ’s strategy implementing planning projects in Idaho, Montana, and Colorado.  Alicia values planning that positively impacts people and their communities. Her experience includes current- and long-range planning projects in the areas of land use permit review and compliance, comprehensive plans, area-specific planning efforts or master plans, and environmental review to name a few.  Alicia enjoys the implementation of public engagement strategies that are exciting, engaging, and outcome oriented. She loves the creative process and seeing an effort come together in a beautifully orchestrated event. Planning processes facilitated by Alicia will draw on the power of people, community, and collaboration.  Her experience with long-range and current planning has enabled her to provide realistic and tangible solutions for implementing planning projects and understands the local context and codes which underpin a community’s long-term vision.

ECONorthwest

Tyler Bump is a Partner and Project Director at ECONorthwest with a professional focus on the intersection of land use planning and real estate investment that advances equitable housing, economic development, and sustainable development goals. Tyler works with a range of local government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations to develop market-supportive solutions that advance community development goals. Tyler works with clients to develop and implement creative strategies that leverage public and private sector investment to support equitable development outcomes through policy and finance tools. Recently Tyler has supported clients with middle housing implementation efforts including feasibility and affordable housing analysis for the Portland Residential Infill Project, accessory dwelling unit feasibility and policy analysis for the City of Portland, policy and development feasibility analysis to create middle-income housing in Seattle, and development scenario modeling of middle housing options in Beaverton, Oregon. Tyler also provides advising services to local governments and business districts to develop and implement strategies that advance economic development, business growth, and community revitalization goals. 

---

Aren Murcar, AICP

SCJ Alliance

Aren has an innate ability to blend feasibility and creativity to help communities solve some of their most challenging problems. Using data, he can clearly and succinctly communicate otherwise complicated messages. With a background in economics and a passion for alternative transportation, Aren has a knack for integrating data into his work in planning and providing a multimodal perspective on transportation issues. Whether it’s interpreting the results from surveys, researching community demographics, or finding the most efficient routes for pathway networks, he can extract meaning from the numbers and make sense of it for others to understand more easily. By using economic analysis to examine his findings, Aren can also provide a distinct, substantiated perspective on community planning issues, which helps maintain clear, engaging, and well-informed communication among elected officials, the City, and the public.

Back to Schedule