After reviewing so many bills proposing to change the ways our cities evolve and grow with a particular focus on housing supply, it feels like a bit of a vacation to see some proposals dealing with other aspects of city planning responsibilities.

This week several proposals of this sort are planned for hearing or for committee vote.

Integration of climate change considerations in the Growth Management Act

Long-time readers will recall the evolution and work that has gone into this proposal over the last several years. In the 2022 legislative session a fully agreed-to compromise bill was poised for passage until the clock ran out on Sine Die.

Despite this setback, the proposal is back for one more try—this time in the form of HB 1181 (Rep. Duerr, D–Bothell) and SB 5203 (Sen. Lovelett, D–Anacortes), and with the boost of being requested by Governor Inslee.

The companion bills continue to evolve slightly. If you are tracking these bills please review the new language on environmental justice and Americans with Disability Act planning.

AWC continues to support this bill.

Speaking of environmental justice…

Continuing on that theme, Senator Lovelett has also introduced SB 5651 which adds a new environmental justice goal and element to comprehensive plans required under the Growth Management Act (GMA). AWC has a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion and we are working with the proponents to try to make this approach workable—and to ensure necessary planning resources are provided.

The requirements would be:

• Specifically engage with vulnerable populations and overburdened communities.
• Adds a goal to the GMA to develop and apply fair land use and environmental policy based on respect and justice for all peoples. Identify and plan for the reduction and prevention of environmental and health disparities and work towards eliminating disparate harms and disproportionate environmental and health impacts by prioritizing vulnerable populations and overburdened communities and the equitable distribution of resources and benefits.
• The new environmental justice element would include:
  • Goals, objectives, timelines, policies, and measures, and their application in appropriate elements that reduce environmental harms, that create environmental benefits, that work toward eliminating environmental health disparities, and that promote public participation in decision making by vulnerable populations and overburdened communities.
  • A requirement to identify overburdened communities and vulnerable populations within the planning area using guidance developed by the Department of Commerce.
  • The element must address how all other mandatory element of city comprehensive plans individually—and how the entirety of the comprehensive plan collectively—reflects considerations of environmental justice, addresses any cumulative environmental health impacts faced by vulnerable populations or overburdened communities, and how the elements and overall plan advance the equitable distribution of environmental benefits.
  • The environmental justice element may address subjects including, but not limited to, regulations, decisions on siting and permitting, resource allocations, enforcement, and the monitoring and reporting of exposures to environmental health hazards.
• The bill also provides definitions of these terms.

We need your feedback about this proposal and whether it is workable or how it could be improved.

Helping the smallest cities

Rounding out this week’s trio is the quintessential “good little bill.” A recommendation of the GMA Roadmap process, Sen. Shelly Short (R–Addy) has introduced SB 5457 which allows the smallest cities in the state to have vastly streamlined growth management responsibilities.

Cities with a population under 500, who have experienced less than 10% growth over the preceding decade would be allowed to update only two elements of their comprehensive plan – rather than the full extensive review. By focusing only on critical areas and capital facility planning, these smaller communities will be able to ensure that their environmental protections and infrastructure plans are current.

Combined with Senator Short’s other proposal, SB 5374, that would allow cities under 25,000 to adopt the county critical area ordinances by reference, the smallest cities will be getting significant relief.

Dates to remember

SB 5203 is scheduled for a committee vote in the Senate Local Government Committee on Thursday, February 9 at 10:30 am.

SB 5651 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday, February 7 at 8 am.

SB 5457 is scheduled for a committee vote in the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday, February 7 at 8 am.