Back on January 26 in a post on this blog, we warned that the "the language in the proposed bill HB2343 was dangerous, including denying appeals based on 'aesthetic, architectural, or urban design quality and compatibility with nearby development', which is not sufficiently defined and is likely to be misused by developers looking for a quick approval who would like to shut down valid reviews and appeals.”

Since then a large coalition of concerned citizens* wrote letters, attended Town Halls, made personal appeals to their legislators, and attended the Public Hearing on the Bill in Olympia with seemingly little impact. HB 2343 passed the House by an overwhelming margin. It then was passed out of the Senate committee with the SEPA aesthetics exemption language still in.  The bill then went on to the Rules committee for a second reading.  Remarkably, while in the Rules committee and apparently in response to the objections many of us raised, Senator Marko Liias, Democratic Floor Leader, came to the rescue and introduced an amendment striking all of the SEPA aesthetics exemption language from the bill.  

While very good news, the amended bill still needed to be reconciled with the House version. It was, and the reconciled bill, with the amendment striking the SEPA aesthetics exemption language, PASSED!!  It now goes to the Governor for his signature.

 To all of you who wrote to legislators, to those who went to Olympia, and to all who rooted for this outcome, thank you. Although much more should have been deleted or amended, this was a big win.

 Please write to your legislators, especially Senator Marko Liias, to thank them for doing the right thing with this legislation

* Partial list includes members of the Downtown Residents Alliance, Save Madison Valley, LUAF, Queen Anne Community Council, Wallingford Community Council, Save the Market Entrance, Livable Seattle.