Comprehensive Planning/Growth Management

Introduction

Washington cities and counties have prepared comprehensive plans for many years; however, growth management in Washington took on new meaning with the the passage of the Growth Management Act (GMA) by the Washington Legislature in 1990. The GMA was enacted in response to rapid population growth and concerns with suburban sprawl, environmental protection, quality of life, and related issues. The GMA has been amended several times, and is codified in many chapters but primarily in Chapter 36.70A RCW.

The GMA requires the fastest growing counties and the cities within them to plan extensively in keeping with state goals on:

sprawl reduction
concentrated urban growth
affordable housing
economic development
open space and recreation
regional transportation
environmental protection

property rights
natural resource industries
historic lands and buildings
permit processing
public facilities and services
early and continuous public participation
shoreline management

Twenty-nine counties are either required to fully plan under the GMA or have chosen to do so. These counties make up about 95 percent of the state's population. The remaining ten counties must plan for critical areas and natural resource land only under the GMA.

The GMA provides a framework for regional coordination, and counties planning under the GMA are required to adopt county-wide planning policies to guide plan adoption within the county and to establish urban growth areas (UGAs). Local comprehensive plans must include the following elements: land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, transportation, and, for counties, a rural element. Shoreline master program policies are also an element of local comprehensive plans. Implementation of required parks and economic development elements is on hold until adequate state funding is available.

The GMA establishes the primacy of the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan is the starting point for any planning process and the centerpiece of local planning. Development regulations (zoning, subdivision, and other controls) must be consistent with comprehensive plans (see separate page on development regulations). State agencies are required to comply with comprehensive plans and development regulations of jurisdictions planning under the GMA. For information on plan updates, see GMA Plan/Development Regulations Updates page.

Three regional Growth Management Hearings Boards resolve disputes concerning comprehensive plans and development regulations adopted under the GMA. The Governor has the authority to impose sanctions on cities, counties, and state agencies that do not comply with the GMA, as determined by a hearings board. See also Directions for how to find cases on the Growth Management Hearings Board's Web site.

The GMA is the basis for regulatory reform legislation passed in 1995 to improve how permits are issued in Washington State (see separate page on planning procedures and practices.)

Growth management staff of the Washington State Department of Commerce provide technical assistance for implementation of the GMA.