Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA) and Bellevue City Code Amendment (BCCA) to encourage the redevelopment of existing buildings into residential uses, consistent with House Bill 1042.
Background
In 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 1042 requiring that cities amend their codes to encourage the interior redevelopment of existing commercial or mixed-use buildings into residential development and encourage the interior redevelopment of existing residential buildings at a higher density.
LUCA and BCCA Overview
The LUCA and BCCA will update the City’s land use code to comply with the provisions of HB 1042. The bill includes several provisions to encourage the redevelopment of existing buildings which must be adopted by the City. The following provisions are required by state law, but only apply to projects redeveloping the interior of existing buildings for residential uses:
- Allowing at least a 50 % increase in maximum density for residential uses, to be accommodated within the existing structure
- No additional parking may be required for residential uses beyond what already exists on site
- Removing any additional permit requirements compared to new construction
- Removing any additional form, use, or design standards that would not apply to equivalent housing in the same district
- Removing any ground floor commercial or retail requirements unless the property is located along a major pedestrian corridor as defined by city code
- Building permits cannot be denied based on existing non-conformities, except for provisions for health and safety
- Cannot require a transportation concurrency study or SEPA review
The LUCA will apply to internal redevelopment of any building at least three years old and located in land use districts that allow for commercial uses and multi-family housing. The bill requires that the City adopt updated code provisions by June 30, 2025.
Additional incentives to further encourage the redevelopment of existing buildings into residential use are being considered in the LUCA. In order to achieve this, the LUCA provides flexibility beyond the requirements HB 1042 by:
- Allowing a small amount of additional floor area for retrofitting essential building elements, such as accommodating ADA requirements
- Allowing for a maximum 20-foot tall residential penthouse, mechanical equipment, or shared spaces related to residential uses to be added to the rooftop of the building, where structurally possible
- Exempting eligible development proposals from multifamily play area requirements
- Providing flexibility in the size and siting of recycling and solid waste areas
Project Timeline and Schedule
| Date | Meeting, Event or Action | Links |
| 7/16/2024 | City Council Study Session | Agenda Materials |
| 9/25/2024 | Planning Commission Study Session | Agenda Materials |
| 10/23/2024 | Planning Commission Public Hearing |