SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2846

As of March 13, 2002

Title:  An act relating to requiring specific funding to implement the buildable lands review and evaluation program.

Brief Description:  Requiring specific funding to implement the buildable lands review and evaluation program.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, Dunshee and Mulliken.

Brief History:

Background:  The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires a county and its cities to plan if the county meets specified population and growth criteria.  Counties not meeting these criteria may choose to plan under the GMA.  Currently, 29 of 39 Washington counties are required or have chosen to plan under the major GMA requirements (GMA jurisdictions).

The GMA jurisdictions must designate urban growth areas (UGAs), within which urban growth is encouraged and outside of which urban growth is prohibited.  "Urban growth" is defined in the GMA to mean growth making intensive use of land to an extent creating incompatibility with natural resource use.  The GMA jurisdiction must also adopt a comprehensive plan containing certain required elements and implementing development regulations.

By September 1, 2002, and every five years thereafter, the GMA jurisdictions must review their comprehensive plans and development regulations for consistency with the GMA requirements and must revise their plans and regulations if necessary.

Buildable Lands Evaluation.  The GMA requires six western Washington counties (Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston) and their cities to establish a monitoring and evaluation program to determine whether their county‑wide planning policies are meeting planned residential densities and uses.  If the evaluation shows that the densities are not being met, the county and its cities must take measures to increase consistency between what was envisioned and what has occurred.  The first evaluation must be completed no later than September 1, 2002, and every five years thereafter.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature must appropriate at least $2.5 million per biennium to implement the Buildable Lands Program and distribute the money by July 1 of the first year of the biennium or the requirements of the program do not apply.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.