Director Joe Nguyễn takes the helm at Commerce
Commerce welcomed new leadership in January with the appointment of Director Joe Nguyễn. The former state senator for the 34th Legislative District was selected by Gov. Bob Ferguson to lead Commerce’s nearly 800 staff with an emphasis on customer service.
Read more about Nguyễn in Commerce’s news release.
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Gov. Bob Ferguson announces CHIP awards
Gov. Ferguson and Commerce jointly announced $14.6 million in Connecting Housing to Infrastructure awards in late January.
The awards will support projects in 10 counties and help to create more than 1,800 affordable housing units.
CHIP pays for below-ground infrastructure — such as water and sewer pipes — and reimburses waived development fees typically associated with new housing construction.
Commerce also shared a project spotlight, highlighting innovative projects supported by CHIP since 2021. Learn more on Commerce’s CHIP webpage.
 Agritourism study underway
Defining the future of agritourism in Washington requires understanding how state and local policies around zoning, permitting and incentives affect the industry.
Commerce commissioned a study and report on agritourism in Washington to better understand the impact of existing rules and ways that new policies might support farms. This includes a survey.
Farmers, farming communities, and others are encouraged to take the survey.
Virtual meetings are set throughout February to gather input from across the state. Find the meeting schedule and more information at WashingtonAgTourism.org.
Commerce to present HB 1181 WACs at public feedback sessions
Commerce will share initial draft changes to the Washington Administrative Code Chapters 365-196 and 365-195 during two feedback sessions in March.
These changes implement Chapter 228, Laws of 2023 (HB 1181), which added a climate goal to the Growth Management Act. The draft changes are available on Commerce’s Rulemaking webpage.
Feedback sessions are set for:
The deadline for submitting comments is March 20, 2025.
Commerce updating housing, climate rules
On Jan. 6, Commerce held a formal public hearing to receive and record comments on proposed rulemaking concerning housing. This rulemaking seeks to incorporate 24 housing-related bills passed into law between 2019 and 2024 into the Washington Administrative Codes (WAC). In total, six people testified on the proposed WACs.
Review WAC 365-196 and WAC 365-199 on the Commerce rulemaking page.
Commerce also is in the process of updating WACs to incorporate HB 1181, which calls for the creation of a Climate Element in the Growth Management Act. We expect to release a preliminary draft of these WACs in February. You can sign up to receive updates.
Questions? Contact Deborah Jacobs.
Climate Updates
Salmon planning grants available
Commerce, in collaboration with the Puget Sound National Estuary Program and the Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead, is offering salmon recovery planning grants to local governments and tribes in the Puget Sound region. Approximately $1 million in grant funding is available. Learn more and apply on the salmon recovery planning website.
Funding maps show wide distribution of climate dollars
Commerce developed interactive maps to illustrate where certain climate grant funding has been awarded across the state. Maps for climate planning grants, tribal climate resilience grants and advancing meaningful engagement grants are available now on Commerce’s website. Additional maps are under development.
EPA resources available for local governments
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee created this guide for local governments who want a quick overview of available resources to address climate change in their community.
Annual Permitting Performance Reports due to Commerce in March
Beginning in 2025, certain jurisdictions are required to submit annual permitting performance reports to Commerce regarding housing permit timelines. Reports are required for Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties and cities within them with a population of 20,000 or more.
The first report is due to Commerce by March 1, 2025, and will cover permits issued from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024. Commerce will analyze the data and prepare a report to be published by July 1, 2025.
For more information on housing permit reporting and changes to the permit timelines, including a guide for annual permit performance reporting, please visit our Local Project Review webpage.
New residential parking, unit lot subdivision fact sheets available
New fact sheets providing guidance on residential parking and unit lot subdivision are published. The fact sheets cover new requirements in state law, adoption deadlines, and other topics. For questions, contact Infill Housing Manager Lilith Vespier.
MFTE reports due April 1
Each community offering a Multi-Family Housing Property Tax Exemption program must report to Commerce by every April 1 on program activities in the previous calendar year. Reporting requirements and deadlines are detailed in RCW 84.14.100. All jurisdictions without an independent audit or review program must submit all MFTE contracts including affordable units for final certifications issued in 2020.
Links to submit 2024 annual reports:
Middle housing growing in Portland since zoning change
Middle housing development, including accessory dwelling units and multiplexes, has grown significantly in Portland since adoption of the Residential Infill Project in 2021, according to a new report from Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. The Middle Housing Progress Report found that Portland permitted 1,400 ADU and middle housing units between Aug. 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, in single-dwelling zones. Middle housing is now the most prominent housing type being built in single-dwelling zones.
Growth Management staff update
Jacob Doherty
Jacob Doherty joins Commerce as an executive assistant to provide administrative support to Growth Management Services’ Managing Director Dave Andersen. Jacob will assist with day-to-day operations, oversee special projects and coordinate schedules, among other tasks.
Now based in Tacoma, Jacob originally hails from Texas where he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He enjoys hiking and running, along with reading history and historical fiction.
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Melissa Johnston
Please join us in welcoming Melissa Johnston (she/her) as the newest senior planner at Commerce. Melissa is part of the Climate and Ecosystem Team within Growth Management Services, where she helps communities implement comprehensive plan measures to enhance climate resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Melissa holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in forest resources from the University of Washington. She spent the first decade of her career as an environmental outreach specialist, focusing on urban forestry and solid waste management. Melissa then worked as a city planner for Woodland, Wash., and Troutdale, Oregon, where she earned her AICP and CFM credentials.
Melissa is excited to support local planners with their climate planning efforts. In addition to her work at Commerce, she serves as the president of the Southwest Section of the American Planning Association Washington Chapter. She lives in Vancouver, where she enjoys playing bluegrass guitar, hosting board game nights with friends, and planting trees with volunteer groups.
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Ethan Porter
Growth Management is pleased to welcome Ethan Porter to the housing team. He will assist local jurisdictions with understanding and implementing middle housing legislation.
Ethan is an Air Force veteran and graduate of Eastern Washington University, holding a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning.
His previous experience includes six years as a planner for the city of Post Falls, Idaho, and in private engineering practice.
Ethan enjoys the collaborative nature of planning work and the positive impact it can have on communities.
Residing in Spokane with his wife and two daughters, Ethan enjoys outdoor activities during all seasons, 3D designing and printing, playing piano and spending time with his family.
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We’re hiring!
The Local Government Division is hiring a Local Permit Review Program Manager. This position in Growth Management Services provides advanced program administration, technical assistance and contract management activities for the statewide Local Permit Review program. The program manager will support local governments on project development permit requirements, and work to strengthen accountability to project applicants and the public.
Outside of Commerce
Submit nominations now for planning awards
The Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Planning Association of Washington are accepting nominations for the 2025 awards program. Together, they will honor outstanding contributions to the field of planning in Washington at a conference in April.
Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, March 3.
Find the awards fact sheet and nomination form online.
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WSDOT updates planning portal
Washington Geological Survey shares debris flow assessments
After wildfires, even modest amounts of rainfall can produce dangerous flash floods and debris flows. Increased runoff, flash floods, and debris flow hazards may remain elevated for several years after a fire.
The Washington Geological Survey Post-Wildfire Debris Flow Program conducts rapid debris flow hazard assessments in areas recently burned by wildfires and monitors the areas for debris flow activity for years afterward. In 2024, WGS completed four of these assessments across Washington. See this year’s reports and learn about the work on the Wildfire-Associated Debris Flow webpage.
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Fish and Wildlife share new tools
Upcoming events
Regional Planners’ Forums
Commerce, the Planning Association of Washington and the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association collaboratively present the Regional Planners’ Forums.
The Planners’ Forums offer a free opportunity for planners, planning commissioners, elected officials and community members to talk informally about local issues, share ideas and receive updates from state and federal agencies.
The Planners’ Forums also satisfy requirements for credentialed planners toward professional development through advanced-level presentations on timely and relevant planning subjects.
Northwest Planners’ Forum
The next Northwest Washington Planners’ Forum is a virtual event scheduled for March 6. The forum will feature presentations on historic preservation, urban design and design review. We expect the forum to be eligible for two certification credits.
Tribal Planners’ Forum
This online forum will focus on housing planning and indigenous placemaking.
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, 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 open to the public.
The Short Course schedule has been updated for the rest of the year. In addition to multiple new online courses, we are offering several new regional in-person events.
For example, in March we will hold our first Short Course on Local Planning with a tribal planning focus. Many thanks to the Tulalip Tribes for collaborating with Commerce on the course and for hosting the event at the Hibulb Cultural Center.
Online courses:
In-person courses:
Ask about local presentations
Commerce also offers e-visits to local planning commissions or other meetings. Topics include comprehensive plan basics and roles in the planning process.
Contact your regional planner to request a presentation.
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