Allowing middle housing like townhomes and stacked flats in cities' formerly single family zones has been a major point of emphasis across Washington state, but plenty of obstacles can get in the way. For Seattle, a major hurdle is utility hook-up fees. Civil engineer Donna Breske has written about this issue extensively in op-eds with The Urbanist, and she also recently produced a video digging into the issue, which can block housing and drive up costs.
Problems with excessive water hook-up costs stubbornly remain and Breske and other professionals in the building industry have argued the City's recent water-main cost-sharing proposal does not go far enough and would continue to exact fees that go beyond what is legally allowed in state law. Breske contends Seattle needs a systemwide plan to upgrade water mains that is not dependent on gouging builders.
Donna Breske (Guest Contributor)
