Builders press for higher short‑plat threshold; cities urge careful implementation

Brian Oldscombe of the Master Builders Association urged the committee to pursue an incremental subdivision reform: raise the short‑plat threshold in urban growth areas to 30 lots (the change proponents described as HB 2702) to enable faster, administrative approvals for more for‑sale housing and reduce permitting delays.

Oldscombe cited Commerce data showing preliminary and final plat approvals are running about eight months past statutory deadlines and said those delays can add roughly $37,000 to the cost of a new home. "Shortplats are intended to be a summary administrative process," he said, arguing a higher threshold would allow more projects to use that faster path.

Spencer Gardner, Spokane’s planning director, described how implementation of House Bill 1110 has raised practical questions: the bill’s unit‑per‑lot provisions can require jurisdictions to review plats assuming higher theoretical densities (4 to 6 units per lot), which creates uncertainty about required infrastructure. Gardner recommended a narrowly tailored amendment allowing voluntary, time‑limited conditions to limit units per lot in certain cases so infrastructure sizing matches expected build‑out.

City and county representatives debated whether removing public hearings for some administrative approvals would be appropriate; proponents say administrative approvals reduce political pressure and avoid misleading the public about discretionary authority, while opponents said public hearings offer valuable early community dialogue on larger projects.

Panelists urged a measured approach: pursue simple, early fixes (threshold changes) while continuing work on broader statutory reform and safeguards to ensure administrative shortcuts do not sideline legitimate community concerns.

The committee did not vote; presenters signaled they will continue to work with legislators on narrowly scoped statutory steps for the next session.