On October 24, 2025, HCMP attorneys Josh Friedmann and Alex Wu secured a dismissal in King County Superior Court of a land use appeal challenging Plymouth Housing Group’s Permanent Supportive Housing project in downtown Redmond. Friedmann and Wu have now successfully defended Plymouth’s project before both the City’s hearing examiner and the superior court.
In likely the first court case examining Washington’s Transit-Oriented Development law, Friedmann and Wu secured the court’s finding that under RCW 36.70A.842(1) and (2) the challenger could not use the courts to force the City of Redmond to study and mandate additional parking for new housing across the street from a light rail station. Senator Marko Liias initially proposed these new rules in 2023 as part of Senate Bill 5466, and the legislation passed in a revised package with Rep. Julia Reed as lead sponsor in early 2025. The law became effective on July 27, 2025.
Friedmann and Wu also secured alternative rulings against the housing opponent based on the specialized requirements Washington’s Land Use Petition Act (“LUPA”) relating to perfection of standing and service of process.
For guidance on developing or defending affordable, workforce, or market-rate housing projects in Washington State, contact the Land Use team at Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson P.S.