The City of Tukwila is proposing an amendment to its regulations regarding phased Binding Site Improvement Plans (BSIPs). Currently, the city mandates that developers utilizing phased BSIPs execute a development agreement in addition to the BSIP itself. This requirement, found in Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 17.16.030(C), has been identified by city staff as redundant, burdensome, and inconsistent with practices in comparable jurisdictions.

Washington State's HB 1220, passed in 2021, significantly impacted local regulations concerning "STEP Housing," encompassing emergency shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing, and permanent supportive housing. This legislation aimed to reduce restrictions on siting these crucial housing types. The law defines each STEP Housing type, clarifying distinctions between them and other similar facilities like group homes or assisted living. It explicitly excludes temporary encampments, tiny home villages, and traditional income-restricted housing, among other facility types, from the STEP Housing designation. Following the passage of HB 1220, Tukwila adopted regulations via Ordinance 2658 to align with the state statute. However, at that time, the Department of Commerce hadn't yet issued implementation guidance, nor had King County and the State Office of Financial Management finalized bed allocation numbers for each jurisdiction.

The Tukwila Urban Center, a designated regional growth center within the Puget Sound Regional Council's growth strategy, is striving to increase its density and reduce reliance on cars. This designation makes the area eligible for additional funding to facilitate its transition into a denser, transit-oriented development.