Planners' Update Newsletter Commerce is looking for input on our GMA rules Growth Management Services is interested in hearing from local planners on potential changes to our administrative rules for the Growth Management Act (GMA). Over the last few months we've reviewed legislative changes and case law and met with a number of state agencies to help identify potential changes to consider in our rulemaking efforts. We will release a draft scope for the WAC in the next month for public review and comment. We would like to convene a group of local government planners to discuss the scope of potential changes, and highlight any issues or topic areas that are not identified in the draft scope. We consider local planners as critical partners in effective implementation of the GMA and we want to hear your perspectives. We anticipate hosting 3-4 virtual listening sessions in June and July. We will post the draft scope and provide additional materials about the rulemaking effort on our EZ View Site: Growth Management Act WAC Update. If you are interested in participating on the technical advisory group, please email gmarulemaking@commerce.wa.gov. If you can't participate, but would like to comment on the scope, feel free to send us written comments. Planners' forums Planners' Forums are free, open to all and are often Continuing Education (CE) eligible. Upcoming Planners' Forums and events include the following: - Southern Planners' Forum: Thursday, May 13th from 9 to 11 am. Topic: Looks Good! Visual Tools for Planners. Register in advance here.
- Peninsula Planners' Forum: Thursday, May 20th from 1 to 4 pm, with optional Virtual Happy Hour from 5-6:30 pm. Topic: Transportation Equity. Register in advance here. Agenda can be found here
- Eastern Planners' Forum: Wednesday, July 28th. Time and Topic forthcoming.
Presentations from past Regional Planners' Forums can be found on the Planners' Forum webpage. Short course on local planning The Short Course on local planning offered by the Department of Commerce offers an overview of the land use planning laws in Washington state, an introduction to comprehensive planning and plan implementation under the Growth Management Act, a review of the roles in planning and mandatory training on the Open Public Meetings Act for local government officials. All courses are offered at no charge and are open to the public. The currently scheduled 2021 Short Courses are noted below, with more coming in the fall. Click on the link for registration. Thanks to the ease of travel with Zoom technology in these COVID times, Commerce is also offering e-visits to local planning commissions or other meetings. Contact your regional planner with any requests for presentations on topics such as comprehensive plan basics and roles in the planning process. FTA funding opportunity for transit planning The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of approximately $10 million in competitive grant funds through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FTA's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning. The funds will support comprehensive planning efforts that help connect communities, improve access to public transportation and affordable housing, and support President Biden's call to combat climate change, advance environmental justice, and promote equitable delivery of benefits to underserved communities. In order to apply for program funding, an applicant must be an existing FTA recipient – either a project sponsor of an eligible transit project or an entity with land use planning authority in the project corridor. The application period will close on Monday, June 21, 2021. Subscribe to our Planners' Update newsletter Do you have new staff or know of someone who would like to know about planning news in Washington? If so, please direct them to sign up for the Commerce's Planners' Update newsletter by visiting the main Department of Commerce webpage. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the "subscribe" area, enter your email and click "submit" to choose subscriptions you would like to receive. | 
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