BILL REQ. #:  H-2811.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to property tax exemptions for multiple-unit housing in urban centers within the boundaries of the campus facilities master plan of any state institution of higher education; amending RCW 84.14.010 and 84.14.060; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 84.14.010 and 2002 c 146 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "Campus facilities master plan" means the area that is defined by a state institution of higher education as necessary for the future growth and development of its campus facilities wherever located within the state.
     (2) "City" means either (a) a city or town with a population of at least thirty thousand or (b) the largest city or town, if there is no city or town with a population of at least thirty thousand, located in a county planning under the growth management act.
     (((2))) (3) "Governing authority" means the local legislative authority of a city having jurisdiction over the property for which an exemption may be applied for under this chapter.
     (((3))) (4) "Growth management act" means chapter 36.70A RCW.
     (((4))) (5) "Multiple-unit housing" means a building having four or more dwelling units not designed or used as transient accommodations and not including hotels and motels. Multifamily units may result from new construction or rehabilitated or conversion of vacant, underutilized, or substandard buildings to multifamily housing.
     (((5))) (6) "Owner" means the property owner of record.
     (((6))) (7) "Permanent residential occupancy" means multiunit housing that provides either rental or owner occupancy on a nontransient basis. This includes owner-occupied or rental accommodation that is leased for a period of at least one month. This excludes hotels and motels that predominately offer rental accommodation on a daily or weekly basis.
     (((7))) (8) "Rehabilitation improvements" means modifications to existing structures, that are vacant for twelve months or longer, that are made to achieve a condition of substantial compliance with existing building codes or modification to existing occupied structures which increase the number of multifamily housing units.
     (((8))) (9) "Residential targeted area" means an area within an urban center that has been designated by the governing authority as a residential targeted area in accordance with this chapter. With respect to designations after the effective date of this section, "residential targeted area" may not include a campus facilities master plan.
     (((9))) (10) "State institution of higher education" means the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, The Evergreen State College, and any of Washington state's community, vocational, or technical colleges.
     (11) "Substantial compliance" means compliance with local building or housing code requirements that are typically required for rehabilitation as opposed to new construction.
     (((10))) (12) "Urban center" means a compact identifiable district where urban residents may obtain a variety of products and services. An urban center must contain:
     (a) Several existing or previous, or both, business establishments that may include but are not limited to shops, offices, banks, restaurants, governmental agencies;
     (b) Adequate public facilities including streets, sidewalks, lighting, transit, domestic water, and sanitary sewer systems; and
     (c) A mixture of uses and activities that may include housing, recreation, and cultural activities in association with either commercial or office, or both, use.

Sec. 2   RCW 84.14.060 and 1995 c 375 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The duly authorized administrative official or committee of the city may approve the application if it finds that:
     (((1))) (a) A minimum of four new units are being constructed or in the case of occupied rehabilitation or conversion a minimum of four additional multifamily units are being developed;
     (((2))) (b) The proposed project is or will be, at the time of completion, in conformance with all local plans and regulations that apply at the time the application is approved;
     (((3))) (c) The owner has complied with all standards and guidelines adopted by the city under this chapter; and
     (((4))) (d) The site is located in a residential targeted area of an urban center that has been designated by the governing authority in accordance with procedures and guidelines indicated in RCW 84.14.040.
     (2) An application may not be approved after the effective date of this act if any part of the proposed project site is within a campus facilities master plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2007.