This month: UGA swaps, climate planning grants, impact fees, upcoming events
State law provides for growth area swaps; new fact sheet available
An urban growth area swap provides counties a path to revise an urban growth area or areas based on identified patterns of development and likely development pressure.
The Growth Management Act provides two processes for completing a UGA swap, depending on whether the swap is conducted during a periodic update year. Each process comes with specific requirements.
Commerce has developed an Urban Growth Area Swaps fact sheet to help counties navigate the two processes and determine which may be appropriate. Commerce is also revising its more comprehensive Urban Growth Area guidebook, last updated in 2012. That guidebook will be published later this year.
Feedback needed: Have your say on new guidelines for development fees
Washington’s cities and counties are on the frontline of managing growth, and a new guidebook from Commerce aims to help them navigate the complexities of setting development fees. The draft Proportional Impact Fee and System Development Charges Guidebook is available now for review.
The guidebook outlines key considerations to lead jurisdictions through the process of calculating and adopting proportional impact fees and system development charges.
Now is your chance to weigh in. Public comments are open through April 30, and your feedback will help fine-tune these guidelines to better serve local governments and their residents. Comments can be submitted through an online form.
Don’t miss the chance to contribute to this important resource that will impact growth in Washington. Learn more on Commerce’s Middle Housing webpage.
Commerce seeks feedback on new Multifamily Building Efficiency Grants Program
The Department of Commerce has approximately $52 million available in grants for affordable multifamily buildings in its Housing Trust Fund portfolio to replace fossil fuel equipment with all-electric equipment.
The grants can fund projects for energy management planning activities like energy audits and building benchmarking, and energy retrofit activities like installing renewable energy systems and replacing equipment.
To ensure funds are equitably distributed and address community concerns, Commerce is seeking your feedback. We want to know:
- How would this program impact your community?
- What concerns do you have about the work that would be funded?
- How can we make sure this program does not increase environmental harm to vulnerable populations?
Please send your feedback via email to Aaron Dumas at [email protected]. For more information, visit the Multifamily Building Efficiency Grant website.
Empowering community voices: Help shape the future of participatory planning
Good community planning begins with public engagement, but vulnerable populations are too often left out of planning processes that affect them.
Commerce and Uncommon Bridges are working on resources to increase participation of vulnerable populations and overburdened communities in comprehensive planning processes.
To aid that work, we’re asking local planners to respond to a survey about their public engagement efforts. Survey responses will help us develop resources including a workbook, video and illustrated story, all relating planning concepts to everyday life.
Please respond to the survey by April 18.
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 Climate updates
Climate planning grants available beginning April 17
Pending legislative appropriation, Commerce expects to distribute statewide grants to support climate planning that is required as part of the Growth Management Act periodic update process.
Climate planning grants are available to those jurisdictions across Washington that must include a climate change and resiliency element in their comprehensive plans during their next periodic update. Funding will be determined based on legislative appropriation. This grant program is only for the development of the climate change and resiliency element. Implementation activities are not eligible for funding.
Find more information, including application instructions, on Commerce’s GMA Grants webpage.
Housing updates
Empirical parking study guidance finalized
State laws passed in 2023 set maximum off-street parking requirements that a city or county may require for middle housing and accessory dwelling units.
One way a city or county may receive an exception to these rules is to submit an empirical parking study to Commerce showing that the state requirements would be less safe than the jurisdiction’s own parking requirements.
Commerce has finalized its Empirical Parking Study Guidance to assist jurisdictions in preparing and submitting such a study. Find the new guidance, as well as an application checklist and other helpful resources, on Commerce’s middle housing webpage.
Preemption permit checklists available for middle housing and ADUs
Several preemption clauses related to housing development were enacted in the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. Among them were requirements for allowing at least two accessory dwelling units per lot and allowing a minimum level of middle housing development. Commerce has prepared middle housing and accessory dwelling unit building permit checklists for use by local jurisdictions where local codes have been preempted.
Find these and other housing guidance on Commerce’s middle housing webpage.
From our partners
Meet WGS staff on YouTube
Nick Zentner, a well-known geology professor at Central Washington University who hosts a livestream series on geologic topics and has a dedicated following on YouTube, recently interviewed Washington Geological Survey staff. Of interest for planners are interviews with Tricia Sears, the geologic planning liaison, and Stephanie Earls, the WGS librarian. If you have comments or questions, contact Tricia, [email protected] or Stephanie, [email protected].
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Upcoming events
Energy initiatives info session set for April 22
Commerce’s Growth Management Services and Energy Policy Team invite you to attend an information session on energy initiatives of interest to local governments.
The information session will be hosted on Zoom from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, April 22. Topics include:
- Developing guidance for community and tribal benefit agreements between clean energy developers and host communities (an ongoing project).
- Proposal to address battery energy storage system siting and community safety concerns.
- Proposal to support local governments in integrating clean energy and transmission siting and permitting with local planning and zoning requirements.
- Proposal for improving engagement with tribes and overburdened communities on clean energy projects and transmission.
- Proposal for statewide energy mapping.
Please register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information with details to join the meeting.
PAW Annual Conference
The Planning Association of Washington will host its annual conference at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan from Wednesday, April 23, to Friday, April 25.
This year’s theme is “Planning from the Ground Up,” and the conference will feature discussions on grassroots planning efforts as well as refreshers on the fundamentals of planning in Washington.
Learn more and register on PAW’s website.
Tribal planning: How to sign up for Planview
Commerce will host a step-by-step walkthrough of how to sign up for Planview, the state portal for comprehensive plan review. This session is specifically for tribes and tribal planners who want to subscribe to the Planview system to receive notice of comprehensive plans and development regulations for relevant jurisdictions.
Dash Point, Browns Point incorporation study community meeting
The Dash Point and Browns Point communities are invited to the final public meeting regarding a study on incorporating the two communities into a single city.
Dash Point and Browns Point community meeting
- 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, April 25
- Browns Point Improvement Club Clubhouse, 201 Ton-A-Wan-Da Ave NE, Tacoma
Find more information on Commerce’s Dash Point and Browns Point Incorporation Study webpage.
Periodic Update Workshops
Commerce routinely hosts workshops on specific elements of the periodic update process. These workshops provide valuable opportunities for local jurisdictions to understand and meet the requirements. Please consider joining us for an upcoming workshop to learn more about planning in Washington.
Tribal Participation in Planning Workshop
This workshop will include:
- Overview of HB 1717 (tribal participation in planning) and tribal relations
- Preview of new Commerce guidance and tools
- Partnership spotlight: City of Airway Heights and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians
- Q&A
ATNI midyear convention
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians will host its midyear convention at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights from May 11-15. ATNI conventions are a place to gather, learn, develop policy positions and share knowledge. An agenda is forthcoming.
Register at ATNI’s website.
Regional Planners’ Forums
The Washington State Department of Commerce, Planning Association of Washington, and 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.
Southwest Planners’ Forum: April 17, 2025 | 9-11:30 a.m. | Register for the Southwest Forum
Peninsula Planners’ Forum: May 22, 2025 | 9-11:30 a.m. | Register for the Peninsula Forum
Take survey: If you have attended a Regional Planners’ Forum or are considering doing so, Commerce invites you to take our 2025 survey. This will help determine training needs for the upcoming year.
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.
Commerce will host two short courses in April:
Pierce County Short Course
Planning Association of Washington Short Course
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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