As we reported after the legislative session, one very positive outcome of the session was a commitment from the state to fund local comprehensive planning efforts. The Washington Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced on May 12 how funds will be distributed to the cities in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish.

Commerce intends to provide grant funding to all counties and cities before their upcoming comprehensive plan and development regulation periodic updates. Highlights of these new opportunities are below, and more details are available on the Commerce website.

Periodic update formula grants

Grants are available to counties and cities based on population and planning status under the Growth Management Act (GMA) for the 2024 periodic update cycle. The same level of funding should be available to future periodic update jurisdictions, pending legislative appropriation. GMA periodic update funding is available under the following formula:

Fully planning

• Cities with 100,000 or more population: $325,000
• Cities with 50,000 to 99,999 population: $175,000
• Cities with 3,000 to 49,999 population: $125,000
• Cities up to 2,999 population: $100,000

Partially planning

• Cities (no population limits): $20,000

Grant timelines and requirements
Grants will be awarded to cities based on their scheduled deadlines under the GMA, with funding available two years before these statutory deadlines for review and revision of comprehensive plans and development regulations.

Starting July 1, 2022, counties and cities with a 2024 deadline, which are King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties and the cities within them, are eligible to receive the first half of their grant. The second half of this grant is scheduled for the next state fiscal year.

Middle housing grants

Support is also available for the same Puget Sound jurisdictions to address middle housing. There is $7.5 million available, in addition to the funding available for the periodic update.

Available funding allocation:

• Cities over 20,000 population: $100,000
• Cities 10,000-20,000 population: $75,000
• Cities under 10,000 population: $60,000

Grant timeline and requirements
This funding will be available for State fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023). Grantee jurisdictions must conduct actions relating to adopting ordinances that authorize middle housing types on at least 30% of lots currently zoned as single family residential. “Middle housing types” include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, townhouses, courtyard apartments, cottage housing, and stacked flats.

Additionally, each city must use a racial equity analysis and establish anti-displacement policies as required under statute to ensure no net displacement of very low-, low- or moderate-income households, or individuals from racial, ethnic, and religious communities that were subjected to discriminatory housing policies in the past.

Climate change planning competitive grants

The Legislature also provided $2.3 million in grant funding for King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, and the cities within them, to incorporate climate action into their periodic updates.

Climate change elements in local comprehensive plans are not currently required by state law. However, this climate program grant is intended to support jurisdictions that are ready to proceed with climate change planning activities.

Climate program grant funding will be available through a competitive application process. Cities will be eligible for up to $80,000.

Grant funds must be applied toward eligible activities, including:

• Identification or implementation of measures to reduce per capita greenhouse gas emissions or per capita vehicle miles traveled
• Development of a vulnerability and risk assessment, including:
  • Exploring climate-related trends to identify current and anticipated impacts
  • Identifying vulnerable populations and assets (social, economic, environmental)
  • Characterizing risks for such assets to identify where policies are needed