In response to the editorial, “Let’s take tiny houses a step further in Kitsap”:

As a former developer/builder of affordable housing, and now a consultant, while I may agree with your suggestion of the county taking “a step further,” the key element in that suggestion lies within your editorial — namely, “to begin building a gated and supervised village of 12 tiny houses to be located at a yet-to-be-determined location in South Kitsap. This will be the model for similar future villages in Kitsap.” (Emphasis added).

Simply put, this admirable community effort is focusing on a need, but respectfully, I believe they are putting the cart before the horse, as my departed grandmother would say. Building anything before a site has been selected and all of the state, county and city approvals have been put in place is wasted effort.

There is a reason “tiny homes” are considered mobile homes by Washington law. That’s what most are. All we need do is go to Google as the editorial suggests and we find a multitude of tiny homes mounted on platforms with wheels.

That’s not to say free-standing tiny homes can’t be built on the ground, in place. But before that can be accomplished legally, the approvals pointed out earlier must be received by the builder.

The newly formed committee should begin the process of lobbying local, county and state officials to start what is sure to be a time-consuming process to garner all of the necessary approvals before spending time building tiny homes that have no place to call home.

Bill Effinger

Poulsbo