We are working with cities and counties across the state to make sure local land use, transportation, and shoreline plans protect rural and resource lands, water quality, and wildlife habitat while promoting appropriate infill development.

During the major updates to the Comprehensive Plans, development regulations and Critical Areas Ordinances, Futurewise has ensured appropriate zoning on 243,514 acres (380 sq. miles) of rural land, increased density in Urban Growth Areas on 2,713 acres (4.2 sq. miles), and increased protections for tens of thousands of acres working farmlands. We’ve also protected 7,000 acres (10.9 sq. miles) of working forest land, improved stream, wetland, and marine buffers, and safeguarded critical wildlife habitat in counties across the state.

Futurewise is working at the local level to ensure that our communities make strong decisions.  For example, Futurewise and a coalition of Kittitas County residents, including the Kittitas County Conservation Coalition, RIDGE and the Northwest Forest Law Center, are joining forces to fight the development of prime forest and rural land in the Upper Teanaway Valley of Kittitas County. Out-of-state development interests plan to develop the land, effectively eliminating any future opportunities for timber production, destroying natural habitat, and reducing opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Additionally, Futurewise recently launched a critical project to affect Washington’s first-ever Shoreline Master Program update process, leading to better water quality and the recovery of the Puget Sound.  During the next three years, we will be focused on the updates in nearly every county in the State. Click here for more information on our Shoreline Master Program.

Links

To learn more about our work in your county, click here.

To take action, click here.

For addtional information on Critical Areas Ordinances, click here.