Whatcom County has initiated a multi-year project to update its Comprehensive Plan by December 1, 2011, as required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA). The County is required to review and revise its comprehensive plan and development regulations every seven years [RCW 36.70A.130(1)]. The RCW states:
“…Except as otherwise provided, a county or city shall take legislative action to review and, if needed, revise its comprehensive land use plan and development regulations to ensure the plan and regulations comply with the requirements of this chapter…”
According to RCW 36.70A.130(4), Whatcom County is required to complete its next seven year update December 1, 2011. This deadline was extended to December 1, 2014 with the last legislative session’s passage of SSB 6611. The update will represent the county’s vision for the next twenty years.
Consistent with GMA, the update will involve:
- Reviewing and revising the comprehensive plan and development regulations to be consistent with the state growth management laws adopted since the last comprehensive plan update in 2004, specifically:
- Best available science for the protection of critical areas [RCW 36.70A.130(1)(c)];
- Review of mineral resource land designations and development regulations (RCW 36.70A.131), and;
- An analysis of the population allocated to a city or county from the most recent ten-year population forecast by OFM [RCW 36.70A.130(1)(c)]. Note: This item was already completed as part of the 2009 Urban Growth Area Review and Update. It is not intended to be addressed again as part of the periodic review. The next Office of Financial Management projection is not anticipated until 2012.
- Proposing amendments to ensure that the comprehensive plan is internally consistent, specifically for issues identified during the UGA review and revision process;
- Review and update for housing, capital facilities and transportation systems inventory;
- Implementing a public participation program that provides for early and continuous public participation in the periodic review, and;
- Defining within the PPP the role of the planning commission in the periodic review process.
The County has already completed its Urban Growth Area update in 2009. The information gathered during this process will support the Comprehensive Plan Update efforts. For more information on the 2009 UGA update process, click here.
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