A new bill proposes to extend the deadline for completing updates to Growth Management Act (GMA) comprehensive plans and Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) from every eight years to every ten years.

HB 2342, sponsored by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D–Burien), also moves the next required plan updates back by one year for the GMA and two years for SMPs. Finally, the proposal adds Kitsap County to the group that includes the rest of the counties in the Puget Sound Regional Council, so their updates will be aligned.

In exchange for this flexibility, cities would be required to review and, if necessary, revise the housing element and critical areas ordinances to reflect best available science every five years. As drafted, the critical areas responsibility only applies to counties; but our understanding is that the intent is to apply it to cities as well. The Department of Commerce is authorized to adopt rules to require additional elements to be updated on the new five-year schedule.

Cities have long supported extended timeframes for updating comprehensive plans and SMPs. We need feedback on whether cities are willing to commit to more frequent updates of the housing and critical areas elements in exchange for more time to complete the other elements of the work. Please provide feedback to Shannon.

Dates to remember

HB 2342 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Environment & Energy Committee at 8 am on Thursday, January 23.