Planners' Update Newsletter Planning for Housing HB 1220 project starting In 2021, the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1220 (HB 1220), changing the way communities plan for housing under the Growth Management Act (GMA). Communities are now required to plan for and accommodate housing affordable to all income levels, where they were previously directed to simply "encourage" it. To support local planning efforts, projections of housing need by income band and needs for special housing, such as shelters and transitional housing, will be provided by Commerce. Beginning with state population projections, the county-wide housing needs projections will be developed using an advisory committee, focus groups and public input on drafts. Once Commerce provides the projections, communities must use them to assess zoning and regulations for capacity to allow, encourage and incentivize housing that can meet the projected needs. Additionally, communities will be required to review policies and regulations to identify those that result in racially disparate impacts, displacement and exclusion in housing. Finally, communities must identify ways to begin to address and undo those identified impacts. Work is starting now to provide these housing numbers and guidance for communities to complete this work.  Visit the project webpage A new webpage provides more details, including a project schedule. We will post public drafts of the project components here as they become available for comment throughout the process. Subscribe to get updates: Use the "Subscribe" box to join our Planning for Housing - HB 1220 mailing list and receive regular updates on the project. | Helpful new features, updates coming soon to periodic update webpage  With a new periodic update cycle just around the corner, we are adding new and updated resources to the Periodic Update webpage. The page will also get a facelift with a new interactive map, new examples and quick navigation features. The biggest improvement will be the addition of new checklists tailored to the types of jurisdictions using them. We will also add a new checklist and guidebook for partially planning jurisdictions. Whether a jurisdiction is fully or partially planning, part of the multicounty planning policies (MPPs), and/or the Buildable Lands program, related resources will be a simple click away on an interactive map. This all-inclusive approach will also include a new diagram to illustrate all the major steps through the process, including SEPA submissions, working with state agencies and reminders to submit checklists to Commerce. We look forward to getting input from planners on drafts of these resources over the next couple of months. | Introducing new GMS team members  Welcome Jo Anne Wright: New Planner in Eastern Washington We are pleased to announce that Jo Anne Wright has joined the Department of Commerce as a senior planner, providing technical assistance to counties, cities and towns in eastern Washington. She is based in our Spokane regional office. In addition to working at Commerce, Jo Anne is teaching the next generation of planners as adjunct faculty at Eastern Washington University in their urban planning program. She retired from the City of Spokane Planning and Development Services department in 2017 after 20 years there. Her planning experience includes work group facilitation, public outreach, environmental review, policy work for the city's comprehensive plan and she was lead planner and facilitator for a pilot mixed-use center. Jo Anne also managed the city's Shoreline Master Plan update, served as acting planning director from 2009-2011 and managed the Neighborhood Planning Program. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Washington University and is American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certified, and served in several positions including president of the Inland Empire Section of the Washington State American Planning Association (APA). Jo Anne has two sons and four grandchildren who live in western Washington. She enjoys working in the yard, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. Jo Anne can be reached at joanne.wright@commerce.wa.gov or (509) 601-0385. |  Say hello to new Housing Grants Manager Eric Guida Eric Guida joined Growth Management Services' Housing team as a senior planner in late December. Eric supports the multiple housing grant programs that we are facilitating this biennium, including the Housing Action Plan Implementation (HAPI) grant, Transit-Oriented Development Implementation (TODI) grant and the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grant. Eric previously worked with Commerce in two project positions, first with the Buildable Lands program and later with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) team. "I'm pleased to join the housing team and have the opportunity to work on one of the most critical issues facing our state," Eric said. "I'm excited about how good planning can be used to increase housing availability and affordability." As an undergraduate in Minnesota, Eric studied political science and economics, and studied urban planning in the master's program at the University of Washington. He enjoys swimming, music and exploring the Pacific Northwest. Eric can be reached at eric.guida@commerce.wa.gov or (360) 725-3044. | Housing grant updates  REOPENED: Housing Action Plan Implementation (HAPI) grants The HAPI grant program has approximately $750,000 available for a second funding round. Application closes Feb. 4, 2022. NEW: HAPI grants for partially planning jurisdictions Grants of $25,000 are available for either new Housing Action Plans (HAPs), or implementation of previously adopted HAPs or comparable housing plans. We have $200,000 total available.
Application closes Feb. 4, 2022. SECOND ROUND OPENING FEB. 7: Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) Grants The CHIP grant program was designed to fund sewer, water or stormwater improvements and/or waived system development charges for new affordable housing projects. Commerce received 40 applications requesting $41 million in round 1. While we expect to award a portion of available funds through the first round, minor modifications to application materials are under consideration for a second round of funding that will be open Feb. 7 through March 11. Second round awards are expected by April 15, 2022. Applications not funded in round 1 will be considered in round 2. Eligibility criteria Applicants for CHIP grants must be a city, county or public utility district in partnership with an affordable housing project. Application information The application is a two-step process through ZoomGrants. Applicants are encouraged to get through step 1 early to be sure the project meets screening criteria. Step 2 is the full application. Screening questions are included in the grant guidelines(pdf). View a list of questions and answers(pdf) received to date. Download the CHIP grant application(pdf). | Short Course on Local Planning The Short Course on local planning offers an overview of land use planning laws in Washington state, an introduction to comprehensive planning and plan implementation under the Growth Management Act (GMA), and a review of roles in planning and mandatory training on the Open Public Meetings Act for local government officials. All courses are online, free of charge and open to the public. | Month | Date | Time | Registration | | January | Monday, 1/31 | 6 - 9 p.m. | | | February | Thursday, 2/24 | 1 - 4 p.m. | | | March | Thursday, 3/31 | 6 - 9 p.m. | | | April | Thursday, 4/21 | 1 - 4 p.m. | | | May | Tuesday, 5/31 | 6 - 9 p.m. | | | June | Monday, 6/20 | 1 - 4 p.m. | | Ask about local presentations Commerce also offers e-visits to local planning commissions or other meetings. Contact your regional planner to request a presentation. Topics include, but are not limited to, comprehensive plan basics and roles in the planning process. REMINDERS: Department of Ecology grants Streamflow Restoration Grants The Department of Ecology's Streamflow Restoration competitive grant closes Feb. 1, 2022. The grants help state and local agencies, Tribal governments and nonprofit organizations implement local watershed plans and projects to improve streamflow and aquatic resources. $40 million is available for eligible projects. Puget Sound Solid Nutrient Reduction Grant Program The Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Grant Program is open for applications through March 1, 2022. Eligible applicants are the 43 municipalities that operate the 58 wastewater treatment plants that discharge to the Washington Waters of the Salish Sea that will be applying for coverage under the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction General Permit. Please see Table 1 in the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Grant Program Funding Guidelines for a list of eligible applicants and grant amounts. Apply for grants through the Ecology Administration of Grants and Loans (EAGL) system. Water Banking Pilot Grant Ecology's Water Banking Grants program is accepting applications until all funds are awarded or until funding expires on June 30, 2023. Ecology plans to award up to $14 million. Learn more about the grant program and how to develop and submit your applications in the Water Banking Grants Funding Guidelines. Recently published: a new focus sheet and blog post highlighting this pilot program. Ecology staff are offering consultation meetings for potential applicants. To request a meeting or ask questions, email WaterBankingGrants@ecy.wa.gov. If requesting a meeting, please include "meeting request" in the subject line of your email. Know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? Help them subscribe! Do you have new staff or know of someone who would like to learn more about planning news in Washington? Please share these easy steps to subscribe to Commerce's Growth Management mailing list and receive our monthly Planners' Update newsletter: - Visit www.commerce.wa.gov.
- Scroll all the way down to the "Subscribe" section in the page footer.
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