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Growth Strategies
VISION 2020, adopted in 1995, is the regional growth, transportation and economic strategy, which calls for preserving and developing compact communities, redeveloping urban transportation corridors, and directing employment and housing growth into centers that support walking, biking, and transit use. Destination 2030, adopted in May 2001, is the transportation component and includes provisions that link land use and transportation planning. Regional Council staff are now focusing on implementing Destination 2030, and have the following growth-related projects in the 2002-2003 work program: Assess Status of Local Government Concurrency Process. Under the State Growth Management Act, adequate facilities are required to be in place, or committed to financially, to serve new development. Local governments have choices about how to apply concurrency within their plans, regulations, and permit systems. Promote Best Practices. Traditional land use tools do not always sufficiently guide new development. Regulatory reforms and financial incentives are tools that can make the difference. Regional Council staff will be working on these two issues in 2002 and 2003. Related links:
Development Toolkit: Success Stories from the Centers. The Regional Council researched the strategies and actions pursued by six regional growth centers to implement their visions for their centers. The six centers include Bellevue, Bremerton, Everett, Kent, Renton and Tacoma. The purpose of the research was to identify actions that might be replicable or transferable to other communities. The end product provides examples and information that "showcase" best practices for developing centers. Regional Growth and Manufacturing Industrial Centers. Twenty-five regional growth centers have been formally designated in the region. In 2002, staff completed a progress report on the 21 regional growth centers that had been designated at that time. The report investigates development trends and develops guidance related to urban form, site design, accessibility, and describes the characteristics of different types of compact communities. Contact Ben Bakkenta, 206-971-3286, or Rocky Piro, 206-464-6360.
Promote Physical Design Guidelines. Destination 2030 recognizes the importance of urban form to mobility and the proper functioning of the transportation system. The region has committed to developing and promoting guidelines for designated urban centers and high capacity transit station areas, pursuant to GMA requirements and adopted regional policy. Contact Ben Bakkenta, 206-971-32862, or Rocky Piro, 206-464-6360.
Evaluate and Promote Environmental Justice. Federal law and regional policy direct that agencies identify if their programs disproportionately impact low-income and minority populations, and seek to mitigate the imacts. Staff will refine geographic and demographic information relevant for environmental justice using new census data. Contact Norman Abbott, 206-464-7134. Create Guidance for Corridor Interlocal Agreements. Staff are participating with the WSDOT and other agencies to plan for major travel corridors. Staff are working with the WSDOT to develop guidance for interlocal agreements for these corridors. Contact Rocky Piro, 206-464-6360. Provide Technical Assistance. Staff will routinely provide information to member jurisdictions and participate in coordination efforts with local governments, transit providers, and state agencies. Contact Norman Abbott, 206-464-7134. Other growth strategy-related tasks:
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