Growth Management Act.  The Growth Management Act (GMA) is the comprehensive land use planning framework for counties and cities in Washington.  The GMA sets forth three broad planning obligations for those counties and cities who plan fully under the GMA:  the county legislative authority must adopt a countywide planning policy; the county, and the cities within the county, must adopt comprehensive plans and designate critical areas, agricultural lands, forestlands, and mineral resource lands, and adopt development regulations accordingly; and the county must designate and take other actions related to Urban Growth Areas (UGAs).

Rural Element and Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development.  One element that county comprehensive plans must include is a rural element.  Rural character refers to the pattern of land use and development established by a county in the rural element:

• in which open space, the natural landscape, and vegetation predominate over the built environment;
• that foster traditional rural lifestyles, rural-based economies, and opportunities to both live and work in rural areas;
• that provide visual landscapes traditionally found in rural areas and communities;
• that are compatible with the use of the land by wildlife and for fish and wildlife habitat;
• that reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development;
• that generally do not require the extension of urban governmental services; and
• that are consistent with the protection of natural surface water flows and groundwater and surface water recharge and discharge areas.

 
Additionally, the rural element must protect rural character by applying measures that:

• contain or control rural development;
• assure the visual compatibility of rural development with surrounding rural areas;
• reduce inappropriate land conversions to low-density sprawl in rural areas;
• protect critical areas and surface and groundwater resources; and
• protect against conflicts with designated agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands.

 
The rural element of county comprehensive plans allows for the designation of limited areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRDs), including public facilities and services for the LAMIRD.  Counties are authorized to designate three types of LAMIRDs.
 
Type I LAMIRDs consist of infill, development, or redevelopment of commercial, industrial, residential, or mixed-use areas that existed as of July 1, 1990, at the time a county became required to plan under the GMA, or at the time that a county chose to plan under the GMA.  Existing areas are those that are clearly identifiable and contained and where there is a logical boundary delineated predominately by the built environment, but may also include undeveloped lands as provided by the logical outer boundary.  With the exception of industrial areas, Type I LAMIRDs must be principally designed to serve rural populations.  Type I LAMIRDs must be consistent with the character of existing areas and may include changes in use.  Type I LAMIRDs are not, however, required to adhere to the otherwise applicable requirements that rural elements assure the visual compatibility of rural development with surrounding rural areas, and that rural elements reduce inappropriate land conversion to low-density sprawl.
 
Type II LAMIRDs consist of the intensification or new development of small-scale recreational or tourist uses that do not include new residential development.  Type II LAMIRDs are not required to principally serve rural populations.
 
Type III LAMIRDs consist of isolated intensified development of nonresidential uses or of new development of isolated cottage industries and small-scale businesses.  Type III LAMIRDs are not required to principally serve rural populations, but must provide job opportunities for rural residents.  Type III LAMIRDs may allow the expansion of an existing business, or new small-scale business, so long as there is conformance to the rural character of the area.
 
Counties must adopt measures to minimize and contain existing areas subject to LAMIRDs.  Counties must establish a logical outer boundary for LAMIRD lands, beyond which LAMIRDs may not extend.  In establishing the logical outer boundary, the county shall address:

• the need to preserve the character of existing natural neighborhoods and communities;
• physical boundaries, such as bodies of water, streets and highways, and land forms and contours;
• the prevention of abnormally irregular boundaries; and
• the ability to provide public facilities and public services in a manner that does not permit low-density sprawl.

 
Master planned resorts and major industrial developments are generally not allowed under LAMIRDs.
 
The Department of Commerce has adopted rules, developed guidance, and provides technical assistance to GMA planning jurisdictions, including the contents of the rural elements of the county comprehensive plans and the designation of LAMIRDs by counties.

Within a LAMIRD, any development or redevelopment of building size, scale, use, or intensity may be permitted subject to confirmation from all existing providers of public facilities and public services of sufficient capacity of existing public facilities and public services to serve any new or additional demand from the new development or redevelopment.  Development and redevelopment may include changes in use from vacant land or a previously existing use so long as the new use is consistent with the local character.

Any commercial development or redevelopment within a mixed-use area must be principally designed to serve the existing and projected rural population and:

• any included retail or food service space must not exceed the footprint of previously-occupied space or 5000 square feet, whichever is greater, for the same or similar use; or
• any included retail or food service space must not exceed 2500 square feet for a new use.