Senator seeks permitting 'sandbox' to speed housing approvals; members ask about thresholds

Senator Dixon told the committee SB 447 creates a permitting "sandbox" that requires applicants to submit completed applications before municipal timetables begin and that sets clear criteria for what a municipality can require on plats.

During questioning, Representative Kelly asked where the number 250 on line 159 came from; the sponsor said the threshold was chosen to exclude very small municipalities and was developed with input from ACCG and other stakeholders. Members asked whether GMA or ACCG supported the bill; the sponsor said he believed they were neutral but would confirm rather than risk misspeaking.

Another member asked how the bill would handle requests for impact-fee disclosure when development plans are not yet precise; the sponsor said the requester would need to provide a reasonably specific description of intended development (a "straw man" of zoning or units) so the county or city could calculate likely fees. The sponsor acknowledged they may need to add a statutory shot clock for response time and that the bill excludes projects triggering development-of-regional-impact timetables.

The committee did not take final action on SB 447 during this session; discussion focused on thresholds, stakeholder input, and potential timing requirements.