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After originally deciding to increase the cost of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by requiring separate sewer and water connections at a substantial cost, the City of Snohomish has reversed its position on a 5-1 vote with Councilmember Karen Kuzak in support of the increased fees.
The original proposal, which could have added an additional $20,000 to $40,000 to the construction cost of the ADU, met with significant public outcry, led to the reversal.
The Washington Policy Center (WPC) previously highlighted the increased costs as poor public policy in an article and encouraged the City to reconsider its position on the fee.
By reversing position, the City of Snohomish has reduced the cost of affordable housing within the city limits.
WPC encourages the all government agencies to continue to find other opportunities to reduce excessive government fees on homeowners to continue to reduce the cost of housing.
For more recommendations on reducing housing costs, WPC has published several articles, a summary of which can be found on WPCs website.