End-of-year progress report; Share your comp plan implementation experience; Housing and staff updates



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dec. 16, 2024

2024 December Planners' Newsletter
Snowy Leavenworth scene

As the end of the year approaches, it’s natural to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and the work that lies ahead. This season is a time to appreciate the dedication of all those involved in shaping our communities – whether you’re submitting comprehensive plans, balancing budgets or preparing to welcome new faces to public service.

While those of us in state government often think in terms of fiscal years, the end of the calendar year is a significant milestone, especially for the local governments we serve. As cities and counties adopt budgets and greet newly elected and appointed officials, we extend a warm welcome to those stepping into public service in 2025. For those concluding their roles, we thank you for your time.

Here at Commerce our senior planners are hard at work reviewing the first Comprehensive Plan submissions for the Puget Sound region, due in just two weeks. Our focus remains on helping cities and counties submit their comprehensive plan updates on time. 

Reflecting on 2024, this year brought substantial progress on key initiatives:


* Housing- and climate-related planning saw significant progress with the release of STEP housing guidance [ [link removed] ] and the new Climate Policy Explorer [ [link removed] ].
* Programs like the Multi-Family Tax Exemption program (MFTE) [ [link removed] ] and the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) [ [link removed] ] saw strong demand and participation.
* Work is progressing on the next step of the Collaborative Roadmap process [ [link removed] ] with a focus on increasing cooperation between jurisdictions and special purpose districts.
* Periodic Update workshops [ [link removed] ] in support of 2026 jurisdictions are halfway complete with more planned for early 2025. Workshops for 2027 jurisdictions will kick off in June 2025.
* Local Project Review [ [link removed] ] remained top of mind for our local communities and Commerce planners.

Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate a busy start, including:


* A dynamic legislative session. We look forward to supporting the Legislature to address challenges and opportunities.
* An update to guidance on Rural Lands planning and Urban Growth Areas, the first in more than 10 years.
* An update to the Washington Administrative Code on housing. We filed the CR-102 for rulemaking [ [link removed] ] last month and will have a public hearing [ [link removed] ] Jan. 6.

As the year closes, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on all you’ve achieved in 2024. The collective progress of our communities is truly inspiring, and we’re excited to embark on another year of collaboration and growth. Happy Holidays, Dave Andersen, Managing Director of Growth Management Services

Share your experience with Comprehensive Plan implementation

Keeping the comprehensive plan centered in local decision-making is essential to plan implementation. Commerce is beginning to work on the implementation progress report codified in RCW 36.70A.130 [ [link removed] ](9). We want to hear from you to ensure this progress report provides a meaningful opportunity to share challenges and successes.

Please consider sharing details or links to help shape the implementation progress report by completing this form [ [link removed] ]. We will begin public outreach in early 2025 and would love to hear from you during this important process.

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Remember to sign Periodic Update Grant contracts

Award notifications and instructions for the Periodic Update Grant (PUG) have been sent to counties and cities with updates due in 2026.* Jurisdictions awarded grants for 2026 updates must sign their Year 1 contracts by Jan. 24, 2025. *Once signed, these jurisdictions can request reimbursement for all eligible work outlined in the PUG grant agreements.

For questions or assistance, please contact Contracts Coordinator Ashley Murphy <[email protected]>.

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Mediation available to resolve planning disputes

As directed by RCW 36.70A.190 [ [link removed] ], Commerce offers mediation services to resolve disputes that arise during certain planning processes.

Mediation is available in three main categories, including government-to-government disputes, tribal disputes with local governments, and disputes regarding the siting of supportive and emergency housing facilities. Learn more, including how to request mediation, at Commerce’s recently published Mediation Services webpage [ [link removed] ].

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Housing Updates

Commerce seeks public input on middle housing planning guidance

Commerce is seeking public comment on draft housing planning guidance documents intended to assist local communities in developing their own middle housing ordinances.

Read more and review the draft documents on our Middle Housing webpage [ [link removed] ]. Please submit comments [ [link removed] ] *by Monday, Dec. 23*.

 

Suggestions for preserving manufactured homes

Manufactured home communities (MHC) represent an important source of affordable housing, and face displacement pressures. Urban growth and rising land values in high-demand areas create incentives for MHC owners to sell their properties for redevelopment, displacing residents.

Commerce has prepared a new fact sheet [ [link removed] ] for jurisdictions seeking to preserve manufactured home communities.

 

Help shape a new study about alternative AMI methods for Washington

Commerce’s Housing Division is conducting a study to evaluate the potential impacts of alternative methods for calculating Area Median Income. Income limits based on AMI are used to determine eligibility for many housing assistance programs as well as rent limits for some income-restricted affordable housing. The method or the geographic area used for calculating AMI can impact who qualifies for affordable housing and how much rent can be charged. We're collecting information from stakeholders about:


* Benefits and drawbacks of the current AMI calculation method.

* The potential impacts of changes to AMI calculation methods on efforts to meet affordable housing needs.

Please complete our stakeholder survey [ [link removed] ]. We want to hear from anyone whose life or work is impacted by AMI and associated income limits, such as local planners, housing assistance program managers, service providers, developers and managers of affordable housing, advocates, and persons with lived experience of housing insecurity.

Outside of Commerce

Washington Geological Survey releases new Spokane County resource publication

Department of Natural Resources Logo

The Washington Geological Survey is pleased to announce a new publication: "Aggregate Resource Inventory of Spokane County, Washington". This shows areas with potential sand, gravel and bedrock resources in Spokane County. It is part of WGS’s continued effort to map aggregate resources in Washington.

This publication includes a pamphlet and map sheet and can be downloaded here [ [link removed] ]. An interactive web-based version of the multi-county Aggregate Resources Database is also available on the WGS Geologic Information Portal [ [link removed] ]. The multi-county geospatial data are available as a zip-file download package with accompanying metadata on our Geology GIS Data and Databases [ [link removed] ] website.

In addition to our new Spokane County publication, there are six existing county-scale maps and six 1:100,000-scale maps made by WGS from 2000-2024. Next, WGS will be mapping aggregate resources in Grant County. To learn more about these projects, check out our interactive aggregate resources project status web map [ [link removed] ].

We plan to map aggregate resources in all 39 counties in Washington. If you are interested in WGS mapping aggregate resources in your county, we would like to hear from you! Our points of contact for this work are:

Amy Rudko, Aggregate Mapper, [email protected], 360-764-6340

Tricia Sears, Geologic Planning Liaison, [email protected], 360-628-2867



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STAFF UPDATE

Welcome Ananda Gordon-Peabody!

Ananda Gordon-Peabody headshot

Ananda Gordon-Peabody (she/her) is a senior planner at the Washington State Department of Commerce. Working on the Climate and Ecosystem team within Growth Management Services, Ananda helps Washington communities plan to address the effects of climate change.

Ananda comes to Commerce with experience in environmental consulting, emergency management and housing planning.

Ananda holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Portland State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington.

Outside of work, Ananda enjoys crocheting, foraging and figure skating. Originally from the Renton area, Ananda now lives in Vancouver, Washington. 



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Upcoming Events

Housing WAC public hearing Jan. 6

Commerce has filed draft rules (CR-102) [ [link removed] ] to update Washington Administrative Codes, seeking to incorporate 24 housing-related bills [ [link removed] ] passed into law between 2019 and 2024.

These bills relate to housing, urban growth areas and rural planning, and the draft rules will support how local governments plan for affordable housing and increase residential density. This includes accessory dwelling units, tiny houses, design review, local project review, urban growth area swaps and infill development in limited areas of more intensive rural development.

Together, the proposed rules will assist counties and cities in further implementing the Growth Management Act requirements through local comprehensive plans and development regulations. Effective land use planning is critical to sustainable economic development, conservation of natural resource lands and industries, supporting a healthy natural environment, fiscally responsible infrastructure investments, and providing predictability to communities and developers.

*How to participate*


* *Review the draft updates* to WAC 365-196 [ [link removed] ] and WAC 365-199 [ [link removed] ] on the Commerce rulemaking page. [ [link removed] ]
* *Attend a virtual public hearing* to provide feedback on proposed rules on *Monday, Jan. 6, 2025*, at 11 a.m.*
*Register to attend [ [link removed] ] (Zoom)

OR
* *Submit written comments* via email to Deborah Jacobs <[email protected]?subject=Housing%20rulemaking,%20CR-102> *by Jan. 13, 2025.*

*Questions? *For questions, concerns or disability accommodation, please contact [email protected].

 

The Short Course on Local Planning

The Short Course on local planning offers an overview of land use planning laws in Washington, an introduction to comprehensive planning and plan implementation under the Growth Management Act, and a review of roles in planning and mandatory training on the Open Public Meetings Act for local government officials. All courses are online, free and public.

*Online (Zoom) courses:*


* Jan. 21, 2025, at 1 p.m. Register for 1/21/25 Short Course (Zoom) [ [link removed] ]
* Feb. 20, 2025, at 6 p.m. Register for 2/20/25 Short Course (Zoom) [ [link removed] ]

*Ask about local presentations*

Commerce also offers e-visits to local planning commissions or other meetings. Topics include, but are not limited to, comprehensive plan basics and roles in the planning process.

Contact your regional planner [ [link removed] ] to request a presentation.

 






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About Commerce

Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department’s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and effective public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit [link removed]. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com [ [link removed] ].

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