Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Local Government Committee |
HB 1335
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Establishing a process to support local jurisdictions that have made outstanding progress in implementing the growth management act.
Sponsors: Representatives Springer, Eddy, Takko, Upthegrove, Tharinger and Kenney.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/1/11
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
The Growth Management Act (GMA) is the comprehensive land use planning framework for county and city governments in Washington. Enacted in 1990 and 1991, the GMA establishes numerous requirements for local governments obligated by mandate or choice to fully plan under the GMA (planning jurisdictions) and a reduced number of directives for all other counties and cities. The Department of Commerce provides technical and financial assistance to jurisdictions that must satisfy obligations of the GMA.
Planning jurisdictions must adopt internally consistent comprehensive land use plans that are generalized, coordinated land use policy statements of the jurisdiction's governing body. Comprehensive plans must address specified planning elements, each of which is a subset of a comprehensive plan. The GMA also establishes 14 planning goals in a non-prioritized list that must be used exclusively for guiding the development and adoption of comprehensive plans and the locally-adopted development regulations that implement the plans.
Planning and non-planning jurisdictions are eligible to participate in a variety of statutory grant and loan programs, including:
the Public Works Assistance Account (for public works projects);
the Water Pollution Control Facilities and Activities Program (for water pollution abatement actions); and
the Housing Trust Fund (for the provision of low-income housing).
Summary of Bill:
The Department of Commerce (Department) must establish a process and criteria by which counties and cities that consistently achieve outstanding progress in implementing the GMA may qualify for additional points in the scoring processes of grants and loan programs that assist jurisdictions in satisfying obligations of the GMA. Upon completing its efforts within a prescribed timeframe, the Department must issue a related report to the Governor and the Legislature.
The grant and loan programs that the Department must direct its efforts to include: the Public Works Assistance Account, the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, the Housing Trust Fund, and other specified funding programs.
In developing the required process and criteria, the Department must also:
consider state grant and loan funding cycles;
work and regularly consult with stakeholders representing cities, counties, and special purpose districts; and
utilize performance tools that can serve as a 'measuring stick' for evaluating the progress of local jurisdictions in implementing the goals of the GMA.
Examples of items that the Department must include in evaluating jurisdictional progress include:
land use elements that maximize a jurisdiction's ability to accommodate density and more intense growth;
housing elements that afford a rich and diverse range of housing stock and ensure a certain percentage of affordable housing stock; and
transportation elements that accommodate all modes of transportation.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 28, 2011.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.