Racially disparate impacts webinar; Middle housing consultant selected; Staff kudos; PAW webinar; Short Course schedule



Having trouble viewing this email? View it online [ [link removed] ]




Commerce Logo


november? 2022

Planners' Update Newsletter

HB 1220: Racially Disparate Impacts Webinar

Adobe stock image Live Webinars

In September, Commerce published Draft Racially Disparate Impacts (RDI) Guidance? [ [link removed] ](pdf) providing recommendations for how local governments can address new requirements for assessing racially disparate impacts, exclusion, displacement and displacement risk in housing planning. This includes guidance for drafting policies that begin to undo these impacts. After receiving comments during a 30-day comment period, Commerce is finalizing this guidance for local governments to implement in their upcoming periodic updates.

*Final RDI Guidance live webinar:? Dec. 6, 3 ? 4:30 p.m.
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you have any questions please contact Laura Hodgson. <[email protected]>

REGISTER [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

Update on correspondence principles

Adobe stock image Culture

In 2004, several Washington state agencies including the departments of Commerce, Ecology, Fish & Wildlife, Health, Natural Resources, and Transportation; the Puget Sound Partnership and the Washington Conservation Commission agreed upon a set of principles for correspondence. These principles guide our communications on local comprehensive plans and development regulations.

In 2022, we reviewed and updated these principles, ensuring that our written comments with local governments provide a framework for state technical assistance and that discussions focus on substantive issues.

*Principles regarding state agency interaction for the Growth Management Act and Shorelines Management Act:*


* Early notification and involvement.
* Local and state agencies will both work for early engagement and responsiveness.
* Effective participation requires on-going involvement throughout the planning process.
* State agencies will share draft comments informally with local governments.
* State agencies are encouraged to provide assistance during the Shoreline Master Program.
* State agencies will ensure written correspondence on GMA issues reflects the official agency policy.
* State agencies will make every attempt to resolve conflicts prior to finalizing comments to local governments.
* State agencies acknowledge commenting on local government plans under the GMA is a technical assistance role and not a regulatory role.
* State agencies may provide guidance that urges local governments to exercise their discretion in ways that go beyond the minimum requirements of the law.
* State agencies will clearly distinguish in their correspondence between legal requirements, guidance reflecting best practice, matters of fact, matters of science cited, and matters of professional opinion.
* State agency and local government written correspondence, including comment letters and e-mails are, with some exceptions, public records.
* State agencies and local governments will review these principles as needed to ensure that they are meeting their intended purpose.

Learn more [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

Consultant selected to assist with developing a ?Middle Housing? toolkit

Commerce has hired Opticos Design to assist with developing a toolkit for middle housing options that will be used by a range of Washington cities. Middle housing types for this purpose include: duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, townhomes, courtyard apartments, stacked flats, and cottage housing.?

The forthcoming middle housing toolkit will feature a variety of products including: a photo library, slide and video presentations, design examples, pro forma information, and draft regulatory language that can be used or adapted by cities. As we have previously announced, Commerce has a new technical team here to help local governments.

*Contact your technical assistance team*:


* *Dave Osaki*, disparate impacts lead, [email protected] <[email protected]>
* *Shane Hope*, communications lead, [email protected] <[email protected]>
* *Joe Tovar*, policy review lead, [email protected] <[email protected]>

Additional information on ?Middle Housing? is also available on this EZ View webpage [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

Governor?s annual recognition award distinguishes Growth Management Services Leadership

Dave Andersen and Mark Barkley photo

*Dave Andersen*?, managing director of our own Growth Management Unit (pictured, l-r, with Local Government Division Assistant Director Mark Barkley), recently received an award of excellence from Gov. Jay Inslee. One of several employees honored for outstanding leadership, Dave was recognized for all of his hard work in bringing more funding to local governments in the last legislative session. It took a critical mass of community stakeholders including builders, realtors, environmental groups and housing advocates to accomplish, and Dave was instrumental in making it happen. Dave continues to lead the Growth Management Services unit as we approach the next cycle of periodic update grants.


________________________________________________________________________

Reinbold named 2023 Planning Association of Washington president

Mary Reinbold headshot

We are excited to announce that Commerce senor planner Mary Reinbold, AICP, was unanimously elected to serve as president of the Planning Association of Washington (PAW) Board of Directors. Reinbold gives Commerce an important direct connection to planners across the state, and a continued connection to one of our state?s leading planning organizations. She has been a member of PAW for six years, donating her time and talent to the organization. Reinbold first discovered PAW as a student at Eastern Washington University while attending an event on sign code where PAW board members were on hand to greet and welcome planners. Since then, she has been an avid and tireless supporter for the organization. ?I am excited to continue the tradition of offering quality educational opportunities in a setting focused on welcoming and equity,? Reinbold said.


________________________________________________________________________

National flood insurance webinars

Dept of Ecology logo

Please join staff from the Washington Department of Ecology to learn more about the National Flood Insurance program requirements for substantial improvement and substantial damage in one of two upcoming training webinars.


* *Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, 12:30 - 4 p.m.
? ? ??REGISTER [ [link removed] ]*
* *Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, 8:30 a.m. - noon
? ? ??REGISTER [ [link removed] ]*

*Why attend?*

It is important for *floodplain managers* to have the knowledge and resources needed to process numerous substantial damage determinations during the rebuilding process.?After major disasters, numerous buildings in a community may be "substantially damaged." A determination of substantial damage applies to a severely damaged home or other structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), regardless of the cause of damage.

Before improvements can be made to buildings in the SFHA, the local floodplain manager must determine if the building will be "substantially improved." This is a formal determination of whether the costs of repairs and improvements will equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the improvement. If the proposed repairs/improvements are determined to be a substantial improvement, the building must meet the same requirements in the community?s floodplain ordinance that apply for new construction.

The core purpose of the substantial improvement/substantial damage rule is to bring nonconforming buildings up to current floodplain safety standards. It is important for floodplain managers to understand the accepted methodologies to do this, such as flood proofing a non-residential structure, relocating the structure outside the floodplain, elevating the structure, etc.?

This course will discuss techniques for determining substantial improvement and substantial damage, regulatory requirements, managing substantial damage determinations in the post-disaster environment, and more.


________________________________________________________________________

PAW Boot Camps: Register now!

Planning Assoc of WA logo

*IN-PERSON: "Customer Service at the Permit Counter"*

*Friday, Nov. 18
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Burien City Hall

*Learn about all aspects of customer service at both the in person and virtual permitting counter. Presenters will help you set the stage to welcome developers of all types. Attendees will work through frequent problem-solving scenarios and even learning about code writing from a customer service perspective.

*REGISTER [ [link removed] ]*

?

*WEBINAR: "Caring for your Planning Commission"
*

*Friday, Dec. 9, 2022*
*Noon? ? 1:00 p.m.*
*Location: "Online"*

Learn the ins and outs of providing support to your Planning Commission. The tools at this webinar will help you build and maintain a strong and successful team of planning commission, planning staff, and council.

*REGISTER [ [link removed] ]*

*Questions either session?* Please reach out to [email protected].


________________________________________________________________________

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 (GMA), 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 open to the public.

*Month*



*Date*



*Time*



*Registration*



November



Wed., 11/16



1 - 4 p.m.



*Register* [ [link removed] ]



December



Thurs., 12/8



1 - 4 p.m.



*Register* [ [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.

________________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Planners? Forums

*

*Fall NW Planners? Forum* ? Dec. 15, 2022,?9 - 11 a.m.?
*REGISTER [ [link removed] ]*


*

*SW Planners? Forum* ?? Jan. 15, 2023,?9 - 11:00 a.m.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? "?Registration information to come"

Remember, folks needing American Planning Association (AICP) credits will receive credits for attending based on topics covered. Learn more about Commerce?s regional forums at the Growth Management Planners' Forum webpage.

Remember, you can receive American Planning Association (AICP [ [link removed] ]) credits for attending based on the topics covered.

Learn more [ [link removed] ]?





Stay connected

subscribe [ [link removed] ]twitter [ [link removed] ]facebook [ [link removed] ]


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] ].

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by Washington Department of Commerce [ [link removed] ].

Subscribe [ [link removed] ] | Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ] | Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ] | Help [ [link removed] ] | Contact us [ [link removed] ]





This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Department of Commerce ? 1011 Plum Street SE, P.O. Box 42525 ? Olympia, WA 98504-2525 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]