The newly adopted Newcastle Comprehensive Plan sets a target of 1,480 new housing units from 2025 to 2044. This target—mandated by the Puget Sound Regional Council, King County, and the state—includes 956 units for no or low-income households and 283 emergency housing beds.

Affordable housing matters, but it must be planned responsibly. Growth should never outpace infrastructure. Before adding housing, we must ensure our water, sewer, roads, and schools can support it.

We also need to place affordable housing where it makes sense—near jobs, transit, and retail. Increasing density without addressing traffic and public safety, especially in areas near schools, can seriously impact quality of life.

Many residents told me that responsible growth and quality of life is the issue matters most to them. Our residents value "Small, Quiet and Safe". I will put Newcastle first and preserve the quality of life for our residents.

The 10% affordability requirement with a fee-in-lieu sounds good on paper, but it doesn’t work in practice. Developers can simply pay a proposed fee ($13/sq. ft) instead of building affordable units. For example, if the developer is building 4 units, per requirement, one of the four unit needs to be affordable housing and sold under the market rate ($1M). For a 3,500 square foot home, the developer can also pay $45,500 fee—easily offset when selling the home for $2 million. Most developers will take the cheaper route and pay the fee. The result: no affordable units built, and one more multi-million-dollar home in Newcastle.

Worse, the fee-in-lieu acts as a hidden tax that inflates surrounding home values, raising property taxes for everyone—especially longtime residents and those who are on fixed income.

Plus, the fees collected often fund projects elsewhere and will not deliver affordable housing in Newcastle and will not benefit Newcastle residents.

That’s why I oppose the current proposal. If we’re serious about affordable housing in Newcastle, we need real solutions —not loopholes that lead to more million-dollar homes and higher taxes. Let’s plan smart and protect our community’s quality of life.