By Mike Richards, The Lens News

Washington homebuilders and realtors are praising a new law that would clarify what land is considered buildable under Growth Management Act (GMA) comprehensive plan updates—a move stakeholders say will help address housing inventory shortages across Washington.

The Senate approved SB 5254 in a 47-2 vote on June 29. On the same day, the bill passed the House in a 85-9 vote, with four excused. On July 6, Governor Jay Inslee signed the measure into law.

Is 2017 leaving you black and blue? You're in luck!

And slightly ahead of the curve, too. It so happens that black (in many iterations) and blue are the colors predicted to trend in 2018, according to various paint entities as part of the companies' prestigious color of the year predictions.

Each year, beginning in fall, several paint companies, fashion entities, and design websites begin to predict what they see as the colors that will dominate the various landscapes of the next year. Last year, it was Pantone 15-0343, a lovely yellow-green shade that "evokes the first days of spring." The Pantone Color Institute, which calls itself the "global color authority," may have the final say when all things are said and done, but that isn't stopping companies like PPG Paints, Olympic Paint, Glidden, and Behr from throwing in their hues of choice.

Specifically, PPG Paints has backed their Black Flame concoction, a lighter black with indigo tones launched back in June. Black Flame was the unanimous choice to become the world's "new neutral" by 20 leading color experts around the globe (think secret underground meetings with weird chants and robes).

While the chants and robes may not actually exist, the opinions of opinion makers certainly do. A company's paint color can mean big business, which is a large part of why so many entities throw their choices into the ring and announcements are highly anticipated. At the same time PPG was showing off Black Flame (it's like Zoolander's Blue Steel but EVEN MORE INTOXICATING), Olympic Paint revealed Black Magic, an "often misunderstood neutral" primed to blot out the easy-going grays and pinks of 2017.

Says Dee Schlotter, senior color marketing manager, Olympic Paint: "In past years, consumers have gravitated toward open, airy spaces that are thought to leave room for exposure. However, in the current day, consumers often feel uneasy, restless, or like their privacy is being invaded, so they crave deep, comforting colors that offer a welcomed escape from the chaos of daily life. Olympic paint's Black Magic perfectly satisfies consumers' desire for privacy."

Schlotter continues, "Black Magic can easily make a statement in any home on a front door, window trim, kitchen cabinets, exposed shelving, or even sliding barn doors. It works especially beautifully in a dining room with a bold light fixture."

Not to be outdone, Glidden put its own spin on black, announcing their Deep Onyx as their color of the year. Why? According to Color Marketing Manager Misty Yeomans, "Just like a little black dress, Deep Onyx is a classic, timeless staple." The hue is meant to give off a "less is more" attitude that reflects a minimalist style inside the homes of those in the know.

Stepping out of the shadows is Behr, who boldly announced their first-ever color of the year as In the Moment, a blue-green blend that "Speaks to our society's desire to disconnect and be present," according to Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr. Grand Central Station commuters on August 9 were certainly living In the Moment, as they were witness to Behr's blue via a virtual reality color video and chats with the company's color experts as they strolled through different rooms of a makeshift home.

While we could talk about trends until we're blue in the face, we'll await the final verdict on which colors clients will consume in 2018.

One thing does still plague the mind, however: How does one become a color expert, exactly?

15 Years Green

Jason Lear is principal and co-owner (along with his wife, Holly Batt) of Batt + Lear, a 15-year-old Seattle construction firm, employing a diverse group of 25 employees. Batt + Lear builds and remodels structures to be highly energy efficient, simple, and functional and has won numerous green building awards over the years.

Joined MBA for the Health Insurance Trust

Batt + Lear joined the MBA in 2005, specifically for the MBA Health Trust. "Right from the beginning, it had been our dream to be the kind of company that people wanted to work for," says Jason. "Early on, we offered 20 days of paid time off plus health insurance. The MBA Health Trust was the only plan that would let us insure a minimum of just five employees. We also appreciated the ability to pick our own practitioners."

Staying Insured Through Downturns

Jason's company has made it a priority to maintain health insurance benefits, even through difficult financial periods. "Making it through 2008 was tough. We had to cut our 20-employee team by half. But we did have the good fortune to be vested in remodeling. After the financial crash, people couldn't sell or invest in new buildings, but there were a lot of remodel projects. So we got through. Now we're up to 25 employees and doing well."

Temporarily Lured Away

Jason tried another health insurance program for three years before coming back to the MBA Health Trust. "We were lured away by another insurance trust, which seemed less expensive. And it was cheaper initially because we had a group of young employees who never made claims. But when our employees actually started using the insurance, we were penalized, and our costs were hiked drastically by 45 percent. So we found our way back to the MBA Health Trust."

Modest Increases Are Easier to Plan For

All businesses have seen escalation of health insurance premiums the past couple of years, but Jason says the Trust is keeping them reasonable. "You assume rates are going to go up," he says. "We can handle single-digit increases. They are easier to plan for versus what you see outside of the Trust."

Regence BlueShield Is Very Versatile

Regence BlueShield, the Trust's insurer, provides Batt + Lear many care and provider options. "There is a lot of flexibility. Our staff can select the HSA plan or the preferred provider plan," says Jason. "Personally, for my family, I appreciate that Regence supports alternative care, things like massage, chiropractor, naturopathic doctors, etc." Jason says the plan is also well managed. "The administrators are great; they show us owners different plan options for getting the best coverage for the lowest price. And they present well-explained options to our employees and are always available for consultation."

Built Green

Batt + Lear are highly engaged with Built Green, the MBA's program for setting certification standards of excellence for construction that makes a significant impact on housing, health, and the environment. The program provides consumers with an easy-to-understand rating system that quantifies environmentally friendly building practices and gives builders the resources and support to build high-quality, desirable homes. "We were green builders right from the start," says Jason. "We wanted to be more public about it. So we started to certify projects as green. And now I'm on the executive committee of Built Green."

MBA GRIP Program Delivers L&I Refunds

Jason's firm also takes advantage of GRIP, the local safety incentive program for members of the MBA. GRIP provides Batt + Lear with a team of professionals dedicated to helping them reduce on-the-job injuries, manage workers' comp claims, lower L&I premiums, and maximize refunds. "It's a great, overlooked program that I wish we had known about earlier. We left a lot of money on the table. This is the third year we are getting refunds," Jason says.

The MBA Means Advocacy

The MBA has long been known for lobbying and government relations on behalf of its members and Jason is seeing the benefits directly in Seattle. "There's definitely a new focus from the MBA toward Seattle businesses like mine," he says. "The MBA advocacy groups are partnering with other influential groups to provide the Seattle City Council with a voice representing builders and green builders—which we very urgently need."