TFG Events & Workshops

Max Baker

Max Baker is the Development Supervisor for the City of Tukwila, Washington, where he leads efforts to make local planning and permitting processes clearer, more consistent, and community-focused. Over nearly a decade with the City, he has guided updates to Tukwila’s Accessory Dwelling Unit, Environmentally Sensitive Areas, and Tree and Landscaping codes, and supported neighborhood planning efforts aimed at promoting walkability and housing diversity. 

With prior experience at King County Metro Transit and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Washington, Max brings an analytical and practical approach to his work. He’s passionate about advancing equitable, resilient urban development and contributes to regional issues in his free time, serving on the Seattle Bike Advisory Board and advocating for safe, connected transportation networks.

 

Presentation

Permitting, Policy, and the Path Forward: Balancing Housing, Environment, and Reform in Washington State and Across the Country
This session examines the evolution of planning and permitting in Washington State, from the environmental reforms of the 1970s and the Growth Management Act to today’s state-led changes around ADUs, middle housing, and SB 5290 permitting reform. Max Baker will explore how overlapping regulations have shaped the balance between housing production and environmental protection, and how inconsistent local permitting systems across Puget Sound communities mirror challenges faced nationwide. Framed within the broader housing and environmental crises affecting cities across the country, the discussion will highlight lessons from Washington’s experience that can inform more efficient, equitable, and sustainable planning approaches in other regions.