Futurewise offers a number of publications in PDF format. In order to view each report, you will need the Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader. Click here if you need to download the Reader.

Newsletters

Summer 2009 Futurewise Outlook

Winter 2009 Futurewise Outlook

Summer 2008 Futurewise Outlook

Winter 2008 Futurewise Outlook

Fall 2007 Futurewise Outlook

Summer 2007 Futurewise Outlook

Spring 2007 Futurewise Outlook

October 2006 Futurewise Outlook

July 2006 Futurewise Outlook

March 2006 Futurewise Outlook

December 2005 Futurewise Outlook

June 2005 Futurewise Outlook

February 2005 Futurewise Outlook

Reports

Futurewise, under its former name of 1000 Friends of Washington and as Futurewise, has written and released numerous reports that cover transit-oriented development, taxes that subsidize sprawl, the Growth Management Act, and how citizens can effectively participate in the planning process.

Futurewise Citizen’s Guide to Petitioning Growth Management Hearings Boards for Review of Local Legislative Actions. The Growth Management and Shoreline Management Acts are dependent on citizens and public interest organizations to enforce the law’s mandate.  This guide describes the process by which a citizen or group can bring a challenge under these Acts before a Growth Management Hearings Board, including which types of cases can be brought in front of a Board, the need to participate in the public comment process in order to gain standing, and the steps to a Board appeal.

What Role Does the GMA Play in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions? The GMA Requires Communities to Mitigate and Adapt to Global Warming (December 2009) – An updated version of a paper published for a continuing legal education seminar. The paper explains the Growth Management Act (GMA) provisions that require comprehensive plans to include measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the ongoing effects of climate change. The report includes recommendations for comprehensive plans and development regulations and provides links to websites that have additional information.

Transit-Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State (November 2009) - The TOC Blueprint describes how your community and Washington State can gain social and environmental benefits from maintaining and building better communities near transit stations and along major transit routes.

Recommendations on Shoreline Master Program Updates (October 20, 2009) – This presentation outlines recommendations on how to organize an updated shoreline master program (SMP) and recommendations on the provisions to include to mange and protect our state’s important shorelines. It also includes links to some key websites that include additional resources.

Successfully Participating in Permitting Decisions in Washington (October 26, 2009) – While Futurewise does not generally participate in permitting processes, this paper explains how to effectively participate in local government land use permitting processes. It also includes contact information for Washington’s larger counties and some state agencies if you want to inquire about development’s compliance with adopted regulations. The report includes links to websites that have more information.

Places to Play:  Solving Snohomish County's Youth Sports Fields Shortage (2005) - A report on the status of ballfields in Snohomish County and a four-point plan to solve the problem.

Critical Areas Ordinance Updates: An Overview of What is Required (2005) – Futurewise originally prepared this analysis for the 2005 Environmental & Land Use Law Section, Washington State Bar Association Midyear Meeting and Seminar.  It summarizes the requirements to designate and protect critical areas, the periodic update requirements for critical areas regulations and why the legislature adopted them, and the best available science requirement.  Critical Areas regulations updates are required for all counties and cities in Washington State.

Read Me – Documents on the CAO on a CD September 2009 – This is the table of contents to the Futurewise CAO on a CD.  It lists a broad array of public domain scientific studies useful in reviewing and updating critical areas and shoreline master program policies and regulations.  It also includes guides to the update process and critical areas regulations.  You can click on the links in Read Me and download the study or guide.  You can also request a copy of the CAO on a CD from Futurewise.  Call Tim Trohimovich at 206-343-0681.

Planning for Sustainable Rural Areas (2005) – Explains the Growth Management Act’s (GMA's) requirements for planning for the rural area and the rural element required for all counties fully planning under the GMA.

Growth Management Fact Sheet: Encouraging Urban Growth in Urban Growth Areas (2005) – This fact sheet, oriented to the policy maker and citizen, summarizes why urban land needs to be used efficiently, including the four dwelling unit per net acre safe harbor for urban areas.  The fact sheet also includes a question and answer section.

Compact Urban Development: Requirements & Safe Harbors, Buildable Lands Reports, & Reasonable Measures (2005) – This report, oriented to the technical reader, summarizes the Growth Management Act provisions for wisely using urban land, including the four dwelling unit per acre safe harbor, and requirements for Buildable Lands Reports.  Links to Buildable Lands Reports are included.

Untold Value: Nature’s Services in Washington State (2004) – Washington’s natural environment provides services needed by people and the Washington economy such as recharging ground water which replenishes wells and reducing flood damage.  Untold Value synthesizes the current state of knowledge of the value of these services.  This report was prepared by the Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange in cooperation with Futurewise.  The report was produced through funding from the Public Involvement and Education Project, financed by proceeds from the Washington State Water Quality Account, and administered by the Puget Sound Action Team.

Smart Development: An Analysis of 10 Common Myths About Development (2004) – This report analyzes and responds to ten common myths about well planned development.  This report was prepared by the Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange in cooperation with Futurewise.  The report was produced through funding from the Public Involvement and Education Project, financed by proceeds from the Washington State Water Quality Account, and administered by the Puget Sound Action Team.

How the Growth Management Act Changed Annexation and Current Issues in Annexation (2004) - Describes the changes to the annexation process brought about by the GMA and identifies current issues and ways to resolve them.