Contact:
Stephanie Giralmo, Public Relations & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.457.7067

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MBAKS Inducts Cameron McKinnon as 2022 Board President

BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 3, 2022—The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) inducted Cameron McKinnon as its 2022 President of the Board of Directors during the annual holiday gala in December 2021.

Born and raised in Everett, Washington, Cameron has over 15 years of experience working in the development and construction industry. After graduating from the University of Denver with degrees in Finance and Accounting. Cameron joined Gamut360 Holdings, LLC to launch and oversee the company’s new division in Seattle which focused on infill residential development of single-family homes and townhomes.

Cameron joined MBAKS in 2013 and has been an active member within the Seattle Builders Council since that time. In 2018, he joined the Board of Directors and within 6 months was elected the 2nd Vice President. As one of the youngest Board Presidents in the history of the organization, Cameron is embracing tomorrow and focusing on growing a younger membership base. He also will work to expand MBAKS’ advocacy work within the housing industry.

“As we look ahead, we are beginning to see a shift in our region’s mindset around what housing and density should look like,” says Cameron. “It is the responsibility of MBAKS to help guide our jurisdictions towards responsible growth to allow for more housing options for all.”

In addition to his role as Partner and the Director of Acquisitions and Development at Gamut360, Cameron recently co-founded Confluence Development, LLC, a Seattle-based residential real estate development firm that focuses on infill developments of townhomes and single-family homes in the Greater Seattle area.

The newly inducted 2022 Board of Directors is rounded out with First Vice President Traci Tenhulzen (Tenhulzen Residential), Second Vice President Trevor Johnson (Blackwood Builders Group), Secretary Cameron Kartak (AAA Kartak Glass & Closet), and Immediate Past President Todd Levitt (Murray Franklyn A Family of Companies).

For more information on this release, contact Stephanie Giralmo at sgiralmo@mbaks.com

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, 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.

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

Governor Signs into Law Permit Process Improvements to Help Housing

New Law Will Create Efficiencies in the Final Plat Approval Process for Subdivisions

Bellevue, Wash—April 27, 2017—Governor Jay Inslee today signed into law Senate Bill 5674, providing a local option to allow administrative approval of the final plat process. The bill, sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo (D-1st District) and Senator Joe Fain (R-47th District), will provide significant efficiencies in many jurisdictions where it can take a long time to get a final plat through the legislative process.

Shannon Affholter, executive director of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, explained why the bill is one of the Association's top legislative priorities: "Allowing local governments to delegate final plat approval to planning directors or other designated authorities will save our members weeks or even months of delay in getting on Council agendas for final approval in what is largely a pro forma action," he said.

"The new law is a positive step forward for housing affordability because it will bring greater efficiency to the permit process," Affholter added. "In homebuilding, time is money. Anything that reduces unnecessary delays in the permit process helps to lower another cost pressure on housing."

The preliminary plat application provides an opportunity to appeal, so making the final plat approval process administrative will not remove the opportunity for public input or appeal.

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With more than 2,800 member companies, the Association is dedicated to membership value, government advocacy, financial stewardship, and promoting the residential building industry in the Puget Sound Region. The Association and its members address many of the concerns and issues affecting the residential housing industry. If you are looking to buy, build, remodel, or maintain your home, trust the MBA for industry professional referrals and practical information to get the job done. mbaks.com

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By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Single family permits are down 10 percent in the Seattle metro area the first 9 months of the year, compared to the same period last year. The single family permit decline is led by Snohomish County, which is down 25 percent, followed by Pierce County, which is down 14 percent. Within the three-county metro area, the only county to see a slight increase in single family permits through September 2018 was King County, where permits were up four percent.

Meanwhile, multifamily permits are up three percent throughout the metro area. While King County saw a nine percent decline in multifamily permits during the first three quarters of 2018, Snohomish County has experienced an 80 percent increase in multifamily permit activity, and Pierce County is up 35 percent.

The Builders' Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report: