By Joshua McNichols, KUOW

As you head east to Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90, lush green forests line the freeway.

That land has been protected from development. But sometimes communities believe they need development to thrive.

The question of when to grow—and when to restrict growth—can lead to hard decisions.

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) held our annual Snohomish County Elected Officials Reception on Wednesday, June 17 at Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo. The event drew elected officials and other local leaders from throughout the County and gave us a chance to thank them for their leadership and willingness to work alongside us on behalf of housing.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, and Lynnwood Mayor George Hurst joined a panel discussion on how implementation of middle housing state laws is going in their communities, moderated by Snohomish County Builders Council Chair Ian Faulds of Sanbell.

The mayors shared insights on lessons learned related to middle housing development in their cities, as well as lessons from other cities they're applying to their own. Panelists spoke about the importance of aligning regulations with their long-term planning to provide more predictability, advancing permit streamlining measures, and establishing a culture in city government that views housing as a priority.

Mayors Franklin, Nehring, and Hurst also shared where they see the greatest opportunity for cities and builders to work together over the next few years, and what success would look like for housing in their cities. All three mayors agreed it is vital to engage and partner with the building community in this work. They described a vision for the future that meant more residents could afford to live and work in their communities, with housing options available to families and individuals at all stages of life.

MBAKS's Executive Director Jerry Hall rounded out the program by encouraging local leaders to consider all policies through a housing lens.

In case you missed it, view our takeaways from the event and our new middle housing resource to learn more about MBAKS's work on lowering barriers to middle housing options in the County.

Thanks to all the elected officials and MBAKS members who attended and helped make it a fun evening! If you missed this event, there's still time to register for the Seattle Builders Council Reception — July 29, 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square.

This week, Shannon talks to Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher about our annual (free!) Housing Summit, where we'll be discussing housing attainability solutions and revealing our 10-point legislative agenda.

Register now