October Executive Director’s Note: The Importance of Working Statewide
Futurewise works all across Washington State, and it’s really important to me that we uphold this aspect of our mission.
But as a small organization that can be challenging, so we try to find focus areas that reflect the diversity of state geographies and issues.
Having staff based in different parts of the state is an important facet of this commitment– we’ve had staff based in Spokane for two decades and in Port Angeles for the last four years. I’m excited that we are now supporting them with new offices in both locations! Similar to our Seattle office, these are both in coworking spaces. Soon we’ll be able to receive mail and host meetings in the shared conference rooms.
You will see our statewide commitment reflected in our work on comprehensive plans all the way from the coast to the eastern state border. As many of you know, Washington State’s set schedule for comprehensive plan updates has different deadlines for different parts of the state.
Comprehensive Planning across Washington’s regions
This WA State Department of Commerce map shows the planning cycle and due dates for each county.
The first deadline was at the end of last year for the Central Puget Sound cities and counties. That’s why you’ve seen us doing a lot of work in those places recently. In addition to our general review of all plan updates, we’ve been doing more extensive advocacy in Bellevue, Everett, Seattle, and Snohomish County. Our newest legal appeals are also focused in these areas – Mercer Island, Kitsap County, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, and Snohomish County. The work in Central Puget Sound continues, either because some jurisdictions are behind (Seattle) or because important development regulation decisions are happening on the heels of the plan updates (Bellevue and Snohomish County).
At the same time, we are already deep into jurisdictions in the next cohort, which covers the rest of the Salish Sea and Clark County. Thanks to our staff in Port Angeles, we have been able to conduct robust community engagement on comprehensive plans on the North Olympic Peninsula. Our legal team is reviewing and commenting on the other county plans as well. This cohort is the first to comply with state climate planning requirements. Additionally, Vancouver will be the first city to incorporate the state’s new transit-oriented development requirements.
Even as work in this part of the state continues, we are beginning work on the third cohort, which encompasses the larger population centers of Eastern Washington. Here again, we have a leg up in starting this work in Spokane, at the city and county levels. We are actively exploring where else and how else we can engage in this cohort. If you are based in Eastern Washington, I want to hear your suggestions.
– Alex
