Community Community Editorials Letters to the Editor
Op-ed | Gig Harbor faces housing challenges, state mandates
Editor’s note: We invited the city of Gig Harbor to submit an op-ed about housing after we covered the city’s affordable housing town hall in July. This is written by Gig Harbor Community Development Director Eric Baker.
From the strong attendance at the city’s Affordable Housing Town Hall in July, Gig Harbor residents have shown great interest in future housing options and the implications of growth in the community.
From what we heard at the town hall, it’s clear that many people understand the need for more affordable housing. And for now, local jurisdictions still have some say in how state-required policy changes are implemented, which is why community engagement right now is so critical. As we plan follow-up events and resources to help our neighbors be more informed about what “affordable housing” is, and is not, I encourage you to provide feedback and participate in the process. We still have a lot of work to do, and we want to ensure your voice is heard.
Why we are talking about affordable housing
To prompt local action, recent state legislation requires jurisdictions to amend their regulations regarding land subdivision, accessory dwelling units, and required parking. And further, remove barriers to multi-family and denser housing that is more affordable to lower-income families.
A new state law called the Housing Accountability Act (HB 5148) gives the state more power to make sure cities and counties are doing their part to facilitate affordable housing. If a city’s housing plan isn’t meeting state goals, the state can require changes to local rules and policies, also known as prescribed code and policy changes to resolve non-compliant housing elements. If the city doesn’t make the changes, it becomes ineligible for state infrastructure and other funding sources. Plus, the city may lose the ability to impose conditions on new moderate- and low-income housing projects. That means if the community doesn’t engage now on how our city’s programs are defined, we could lose the ability to have a say in what programs are available, let alone how they are structured.
What this means for Gig Harbor
One example of a state infrastructure funding source is the Transportation Improvement Board, which has provided more than $6.4 million towards Gig Harbor road projects in the last six years. That kind of funding could be at risk if the state deems the city is non-compliant and has not initiated enough actions to facilitate affordable housing.
Gig Harbor is not immune to the well-documented, statewide housing issue. Most homes are too expensive to rent or buy for many young people, seniors, and local workers. For residents who want to stay in the community but need a smaller or more affordable place to live as their needs change, there aren’t many good options. Children have little hope of remaining in the city after they strike out on their own. School teachers, dental technicians, restaurant staff, and beauticians all must travel long distances, affecting our environment, traffic, and air quality.
Based on these ongoing challenges, the recent town hall brought together state officials, housing experts, and community members, to share data and ways to improve housing options for current and future residents. While the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) was a key interest and breakout session topic, many options to expand housing for families making less than area median income (AMI) were presented. These included state and federal grants, public and non-profit housing investments, property owner incentives, and regulation reform. It will take many different strategies and community investments, implemented over many years, to meet our housing needs. In other words, for an issue with so many puzzle pieces, there is no single “silver bullet.”
The AMI for the City of Gig Harbor is $106,042. More data and resources can be found on the city’s Affordable Housing web page.
Proactive, locally-focused action is the best option to address the housing need and the city looks forward to these conversations with our community.
Links
Affordable Housing web page: https://www.gigharborwa.gov/935/Affordable-Housing
Housing Accountability Act: https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5148&Year=2025&Initiative=false
Eric Baker is the community development director for the City of Gig Harbor, Washington, bringing over 30 years of experience in municipal planning and local government across the Kitsap Peninsula. In his current role, Baker leads the city’s planning, zoning, housing, and community development programs, shaping how Gig Harbor grows and responds to housing and infrastructure needs. Formerly a senior planner and housing policy expert, he has a strong background in blending data, stakeholder input, and state policy to advance sustainable, affordable housing initiatives in the region.