Title: An act relating to the creation of pilot projects for the promotion of safe neighborhoods through more effective community planning.

Brief Description: Promoting safe neighborhoods through more effective community planning.

Sponsors: Representatives Upthegrove, Jarrett, Moeller, B. Sullivan, Kirby, Cody, McDermott, Haler, Santos, Schual-Berke, Kenney and Simpson.

Brief History:

Local Government: 2/9/05, 2/21/05 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Simpson, Chair; Clibborn, Vice Chair; Schindler, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; B. Sullivan, Takko and Woods.

Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).

Background:

"Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design" (CPTED) is a concept for crime reduction and public safety that has been championed by a diverse array of urban planners, architects, state legislators and law enforcement professionals during the last thirty years. The CPTED is based on the premise that opportunities for crime can be reduced, and public safety enhanced, by the use of innovative urban planning concepts in the physical design of our cities, towns, and neighborhoods. The CPTED concept emphasizes that the physical environment within our communities can be consciously designed to discourage criminal behavior and thus generally enhance public security. Its implementation may involve a broad range of forms, including, but not limited to:

• architectural design of buildings;
• planning of the physical environment in parks and other public spaces;
• design of streets and neighborhoods;
• lighting techniques used in buildings and on streets;
• use of various formal methods of surveillance (cameras, security patrols, etc.) and informal surveillance (placement of windows, removal of visual obstacles, etc.); and
• creation of community crime prevention programs involving coordination between law enforcement authorities, neighborhood organizations, and individual property owners.

Over the years, CPTED concepts have been increasingly included as part of the academic training of urban planners, architects, and law enforcement professionals. For example, the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville has included CPTED training as part of its academic offerings. Washington State University, through its Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, maintains a website entitled, "The CPTED Page" (www.theceptedpage.wsu.edu) that provides an overview of the CPTED concept, a bibliography, and a list of resources for obtaining additional information pertinent to CPTED issues.

The State of Florida has incorporated CPTED principles in its "Safe Neighborhoods Act," which was passed by its state legislature in 2003. The act allows planning grants to be awarded to various types of neighborhood improvement districts authorized under the act. Furthermore, several cities in the United States have implemented, to varying degrees, some of the urban planning principles contained within the CPTED concept. Among these cities are Los Angeles and, in Washington, Des Moines and SeaTac.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED) is required to provide technical and financial assistance for two pilot projects to be implemented by local governments for the purpose of the study and implementation of "safe neighborhood planning." "Safe neighborhood planning " is broadly defined to include the development of policies, community programs, plans, ordinances, rules, regulations and studies relating to comprehensive planning for the creation of safe neighborhoods and crime reduction through the implementation of innovative environmental design and planning principles. Such planning may include the following components and characteristics:

• consideration of the physical design of neighborhood environments (e.g., buildings, streets, lighting, parks, etc.);
• development of building codes, zoning regulations, and land use policies, using planning and environmental design concepts for the purpose of crime reduction;
• utilization of CPTED crime reduction principles in the planning process; and
• creation of community crime prevention programs involving coordination between law enforcement authorities and property owners.

In choosing the pilot projects that will receive funding and technical assistance, the DCTED must give priority to programs that:

• focus on facilitating improvements to existing private properties for the purpose of crime prevention;
• are integrated into a comprehensive crime prevention and property improvement plan; and
• involve a partnership between the private and public sectors.

These pilot projects are to be administered by the DCTED as part of its existing program for providing technical and financial assistance to local governments in order to encourage and facilitate comprehensive planning under the Growth Management Act. The financial assistance must be in the form of matching funds to be distributed on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The implementation of these pilot projects is contingent upon funding being made available for this purpose by the Legislature.

Not later than December 1, 2006, the DCTED must make a written report to the House of Representatives Local Government Committee that describes and evaluates the pilot projects implemented under the act.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The deadline for the pilot project status report from DCTED is extended from December 1, 2005, until December 1, 2006.

Appropriation: Required.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill provides an opportunity for communities in this state to participate in two pilot projects for the purpose of encouraging communities to implement CPTED principles in the urban planning process. Participation would be a voluntary option for two local communities who qualify for matching funds from DCTED. Cities throughout the world, including many in the United States, as well as Washington state, have utilized CPTED principles in order to make their communities safer and more secure. The proper design of the physical environments in our cities and towns can reduce the opportunity for criminal behavior and thus reduce crime. This methodology has been used successfully in many cities and represents a proactive approach to creating safer environments. The reduction in criminal behavior that results from the implementation of CPTED principles can substantially reduce law enforcement costs and lower insurance premiums. Many professional urban planners have embraced CPTED principles.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Upthegrove, prime sponsor; and Frank VandenBos.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: Marie Sullivan, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; Dave Williams, Association of Washington Cities; and Andy Cook, Building Industry Association of Washington