eNews Action Alert – February 18, 2026

OPPOSE: Bill to be heard tomorrow morning would mandate local housing overlay districts

Wednesday, February 18, 2026/Categories: eNews

OPPOSE: Bill to be heard tomorrow morning would mandate local housing overlay districts

SB717 will be heard in Subcommittee #2 of the House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee tomorrow (February 19) at 7:30am!

SB717 (Salim) Transit-oriented housing overlay districts; report. States that if a locality has a major transit stop which can be a station or stop served by heavy rail, light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, or other high-capacity transit service designated by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation then the locality shall by ordinance establish one or more transit-oriented housing overlay districts.

Reasons to OPPOSE SB717:

While amendments are forthcoming, they are not expected to address the mandated process!

Issues with the housing component:

• No public hearing is required for any of these buildings/projects.
• Projects have to be approved administratively.
• Localities would be required to allow for up to 6 stories and a minimum average density of 30 units by right within .25 miles of a station, 2 units per lot and 4 units per corner lot between .25 and 1 mile of the stop.
• The units could be built in any zoning classification without the locality taking into account environmental justice or social determinants.
• Nowhere in the bill is the authority to make this housing affordable.

Issues with the transit component:

• The bill does not require access to the station from the dwellings.
• Increases the local burden for high-capacity transit projects to include a statewide zoning standard; this forces localities to decide between improved transit service or local zoning control. 
• The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority defines their transit-oriented development as areas within ½ mile of a stop; this bill would create a broader definition.

Action Requested:

Please contact members of the Counties, Cities and Towns Subcommittee #2 (below) and ask them to oppose this bill.

VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org; Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org