By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Growth Management Act,Land Use,UncategorizedThe Washington Conservation Commission’s Office of Farmland Preservation recently published Planning the Future of Your Farm, a workbook for families who want to keep their farmland in production and/or “in the family” as it passes to the next generation. Among other tools, the publication addresses how to navigate the challenges families face in managing the … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use PlanningThe Washington State legislature recently passed a bill that incentivizes upfront environmental planning by local governments and increases SEPA predictability for developers. This legislation will help ensure infrastructure is installed in a timely manner, consistent with adopted standards, and will add clarity for both the developer and the city on the limits and requirements of … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Environmental,Growth Management Act,Land UseIn April, I provided a summary of SSB 6406, dubbed the Natural Resources Reform Bill. This Washington State legislation made changes to natural resource and environmental review and permitting, and was passed by the legislature on April 10, 2012. On May 2, 2012 Governor Gregoire signed the bill into law, but added a signing statement clarifying one … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalLast week, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled in Stafne v. Snohomish County, reversing a lower appellate court decision that had caused consternation among local jurisdictions throughout the state. The case clarifies the ability of a party to appeal a local jurisdiction’s decision to reject a privately-initiated proposal to amend a comprehensive plan amendment as … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Municipal,Real EstateDevelopment and conservation need not always be at odds. The Pierce County Council recently approved Orton Junction, “a new model of development that contributes to the economic strength and livability of our cities and breaks the old habit of sprawling across the countryside.” This agreement represents a model solution that provides for services and jobs … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in Development,Environmental,Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalPartner Jay Derr testified before the State Legislature, sharing perspective on local land use and environmental regulations in the State of Washington. Insight was given on the Growth Management Act (GMA), the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Shoreline Management Act (SMA), the various growth management boards throughout the State, and numerous specialized development and … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Climate Change,Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use PlanningThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just released a report assessing the feasibility of incorporating climate change impacts into planning and decision-making for land preservation efforts by government agencies and nonprofit land trusts. The report reviewed existing decision-making processes for selected land protection programs and suggested strategies for better incorporating climate change into those processes. These … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalThe Florida State Legislature repealed its growth management legislation last spring. While Florida’s repeal still permits local jurisdictions to implement growth management planning tools by their own choice, there are no longer state mandates (nor state oversight) in Florida to do so. Economic development and jobs were the key reasons articulated for the repeal. Washington’s Growth … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Development,Environmental,Growth Management Act,Land UseA legislative audit committee has issued a report stating that that the Puget Sound Partnership has failed to meet Legislative directives for the restoration of Puget Sound. This report will likely spur the Partnership to move more quickly toward taking concrete action, including advocating for stricter development regulations. In 2007, the Legislature created the Puget Sound … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalThere are two different types of rezoning decisions: area-wide rezones and site-specific rezones. Traditionally, both types of rezones were considered to be purely legislative decisions and, like all legislative decisions, were given a high degree of deference by the courts. Since the passage of the Land Use Petition Act (LUPA) in 1995, however, site-specific rezones … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalOn Thursday, May 5, the state Supreme Court issued a decision in Whatcom County Fire District No. 21 v. Whatcom County, which has implications on concurrency determinations for development proposals. “Concurrency” is captured in the twelfth goal of the growth management act and requires that an adequate level of service should be available at the time … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use Planning,Real EstateCottage communities are gaining popularity across the country for those wanting less space and more convenience without losing access to a yard. Touted as anti-sprawl and as more sustainable than other forms of single family housing, Seattle-based architect Ross Chapin has compared cottages to the Mini Cooper: “smart, sensual, well-engineered and reliable.” Successful cottage developments in urban areas … Continue Reading
By Duncan M. Greene on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use Planning,MunicipalThe City of Issaquah recently announced a complex agreement involving a transfer of development rights (TDR) transaction that will preserve more than 140 acres of forested land in and around the City, including the entire Park Pointe area at the base of Tiger Mountain. Several years ago, a developer had proposed to build hundreds of … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use Planning,MunicipalKitsap’s population grew 8.3% over the past ten years placing it 11th from the bottom in population growth rates among Washington’s 39 counties. Perhaps the lack of population pressure contributed to Kitsap County’s decision to consider prohibiting Fully Contained Communities, as authorized by the Washington Growth Management Act. In concept, a Fully Contained Community (FCC) … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalJurisdictions throughout the state are in varying stages of updating their local shoreline master programs (SMPs). While several have completed the process, others, like Seattle are still relatively early in the process, and some have yet to start. Each jurisdiction’s progress is shown on the Department of Ecology’s website. SMPs regulate development and land use within … Continue Reading
By molawrence on Posted in Environmental,Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalFEMA, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries (NMFS), Puget Sound Partnership and other partnering organizations held a two day conference March 1st and 2nd in Edmonds in an effort to help local governments, technical consultants and other NGOs understand options for implementing the Biological Opinion (“BiOP”) issued by NMFS in September 2008 regarding FEMA’s implementation of the National … Continue Reading
By Peter J. Smith on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use Planning,MunicipalAs discussed in “Smart Growth = Better Bottom Line?”, recent studies demonstrate that dense, mixed-use urban development centered around public transit (“smart growth”) can translate into economic gains for local businesses, citizens, and the government. An additional cost-saving tool also available to eligible cities passed last year: the “Compact, High-Density Urban Development” bill. Although a … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Development,Energy Efficiency/Sustainability,Growth Management Act,Land Use,Land Use PlanningThis month the Center for Clean Air Policy released a study Growing Wealthier: Smart Growth, Climate Change and Prosperity which argues that “smart growth” can lead to economic gains by the private sector, governments, and local citizens . “Smart growth” describes development that reduces suburban sprawl, makes efficient use of public utilities, and fosters mixed-use and … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use,MunicipalJonathan Miller, in his recent Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2011 forecast prepared for the Urban Land Institute suggests we are entering a new economic period that he calls the “Era of Less”—less home ownership; smaller size housing; and the need for less “stuff” to put in less space. Tougher lending requirements; former homeowners re-entering … Continue Reading
By Katie F. Cote, AICP on Posted in Development,Growth Management Act,Land Use PlanningOn Thursday, Ron Sims was back in Seattle to award HUD’s first Sustainable Communities Planning Grants. The Puget Sound Regional Council was awarded a grant of $5 million and Thurston County Regional Planning Council was awarded a grant of $1.5 million. Congratulations! The Sustainable Communities Planning Grant is part of the Sustainable Communities Initiative, a … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Growth Management ActIn this installment of our ongoing series on the state of the GMA after 20 years, we explore challenges in achieving one of the GMA’s central goals: encouraging urban growth. The Urban Growth goal, concentrating growth in urban growth areas (UGAs), is a cornerstone of the GMA. The goal and associated GMA provisions require counties … Continue Reading
By Tadas A. Kisielius on Posted in Growth Management ActA recent ballot measure in Florida is making national headlines and is raising the fundamental question of who should be entrusted with the authority to make land use planning decisions. If adopted, the ballot measure would require local voter approval for comprehensive planning and zoning decisions. It is a reaction to public displeasure with decisions of local governments … Continue Reading
By Jay P. Derr on Posted in Growth Management Act2010 marks 20 years since the Washington Growth Management Act (GMA) was first passed by the state legislature with a stated purpose of addressing the significant threat posed by the then-current system of “uncoordinated and unplanned” growth in the state. GMA was born out of political compromise and significant public debate over what level of … Continue Reading