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Broad TOD bill would upzone station areas, set FAR minimums and require affordability; sponsors and cities debate MFTE and feasibility
Summary
A comprehensive transit‑oriented development bill that sets statewide minimum FARs for station areas and ties density to affordability requirements was the subject of a lengthy public hearing on March 14.
A third‑substitute House bill proposing statewide transit‑oriented development (TOD) standards drew extended testimony and nearly 1,800 written sign‑ins at a March 14 Senate Housing Committee hearing.
Staff described the bill’s main elements: fully planning cities would not be allowed to prohibit multifamily housing in station areas (defined by walkable radii around qualifying rail or fixed‑route bus stops), and the bill would establish minimum floor area ratios (FARs) inside station areas — 3.5 for rail station areas and 2.5 for bus station areas. An additional 1.5 FAR could be granted where all units in a building are affordable or dedicated permanent supportive housing for at least 50 years. The bill would also exempt many TOD actions from the State Environmental Policy Act in station areas,…
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