Lake Forest Park committees review draft climate element required by state; public comment period set for June–July

Tree Board and Climate Action Committee members of Lake Forest Park met in joint session to review the draft climate element that the state legislature now requires be included in municipal comprehensive plans.

The draft, prepared by the city with consultant support, is being submitted in draft form to the Washington State Department of Commerce this month to meet the department’s timeline; city staff said the draft will return for local public comment, planning commission review and then City Council public hearings in the fall.

The draft climate element is organized into two required subelements: resilience and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. City presenters said the resilience subelement addresses projected local climate hazards — rising temperatures and extreme heat, wildfire smoke, changed precipitation and flooding, and drought and water‑supply stress — and includes vulnerability assessments that look both at community vulnerability and critical infrastructure exposure.

“The state legislature required that cities … include a climate element in their comprehensive plan,” said Sarah…