Dave Chapman of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management briefed the Planning Commission on the annual growth policy on April 26, reporting the fiscal‑year allocation of 805 dwellings (calculated as 1.9% of the prior-year housing stock) and the policy’s allocation rules: 70% of the allowable dwellings for growth areas and 30% for rural areas, with further breakdowns for single‑family and multifamily designations. The policy treats townhomes as single‑family dwellings for allocation purposes.

Chapman explained the annual growth policy’s calculation and timing: the limit is based on a percentage of prior‑year housing counts and is re‑set annually by the Board of County Commissioners. The policy uses APF (adequate public facilities) thresholds in timing approvals — for subdivisions the APF determination occurs at preliminary plan approval, for multifamily site plans at final site plan approval — and minor subdivisions are now counted under the policy after the recent change. Chapman said unused capacity in a fiscal year generally does not carry forward as a numeric rollover; the Board may adjust the annual limit when it adopts the next year’s policy.

Commissioners asked several process questions: how allocations are counted (APF triggers), whether unused capacity can be carried forward (it cannot), and whether the commission should provide input to the Board of County Commissioners on the 1.9% rate or the 70/30 split. Chapman said the commission’s usual role is advisory and that staff would return with more cumulative, multi‑year figures and finer detail. Commissioners requested a two‑year cumulative view to assess how the policy has steered growth since adoption. Staff said they would return with more detailed results for further commission review before the Board revisits the policy.