Pierce, Redmond and Snohomish describe heavy lifts, costs and staffing needs in comprehensive plan updates

Summary

Local planning officials from Pierce County, City of Redmond and Snohomish County told a Senate committee their recent comprehensive plan updates involved extensive EIS and outreach work, increased housing capacity targets, costly midstream legislative compliance, and persistent staffing and coordination challenges.

Representatives of Pierce County, the City of Redmond and Snohomish County briefed the Senate Local Government Committee on early implementation and lessons from recent comprehensive plan updates.

Alon Bassock, long‑range planning manager for Pierce County, said the county’s multiyear update included a 1,200‑page implementing code package and an environmental impact statement, and required substantial public engagement. He said Pierce adopted housing targets in 2023 with a special emphasis on homelessness and special‑needs housing, retracted roughly 700 acres of potential urban growth area (UGA) annexation land to prioritize rural protection, and increased zoning capacity within a half‑mile of high‑capacity transit. Bassock said the county created additional capacity for about 250,000 housing units while its 20‑year growth target for unincorporated areas is 32,000 units;…

Pierce, Redmond and Snohomish describe heavy lifts, costs and staffing needs in comprehensive plan updates

Summary

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