FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Feb. 29, 1996
Lowry announces grant funds for local
land use planning projects
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Mike Lowry announced
today that 40 local governments will benefit from about $2.8 million
in state grants funds for projects that feature examination of
environmental issues when land use plans are prepared.
"When communities do environmental studies as they plan for
an area, they can save time and money for individual development
projects that come later," Lowry said. "Environmental
review that's already been done reduces costs because it doesn't
need to be repeated for projects consistent with the plan. And
citizens and developers won't have to wait months for environmental
concerns to be resolved on each project."
He said combining environmental review and planning also helps
communities that focus on economic development achieve their goals
of building strong communities.
"Washington's citizens are concerned about having communities
that offer access to family-wage jobs and good quality of life,"
Lowry added. "Streamlining community planning makes good
development easier without sacrificing environmental quality."
The state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
(DCTED) is awarding grant funds for 24 planning projects benefiting
40 communities. Some of the grants are for joint projects with
more than one jurisdiction participating.
DCTED is awarding Anacortes $85,000 to prepare a sub-area plan
that addresses how economic development can occur along with environmental
protection in the Fildago Bay area. Bremerton's $40,000 grant
will focus on developing a plan to revitalize the Charleston neighborhood,
west of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
With its $153,000 grant Olympia will prepare a plan and an environmental
impact statement for the northern portion of its downtown area.
Snohomish County will use its $175,000 grant to combine environmental
analysis with sub-area planning as it prepares plans in urban
growth areas. Spokane County and 10 of its cities are sharing
a $400,000 grant to prepare environmental impact statements for
their comprehensive plans and accompanying rules.
In addition, CTED is recommending funding for these communities:
| Auburn | $100,000 |
| Bainbridge Island | $117,000 |
| Centralia | $69,300 |
| Chehalis | $61,500 |
| Ellensburg | $19,300 |
| Everett | $90,000 |
| Kent | $150,000 |
| King County | $125,000 |
| Lynnwood | $50,000 |
| Mill Creek | $135,000 |
| Pierce County | $150,000 |
| Seattle | $177,000 |
| Shoreline | $100,000 |
| Stevens County Small Cities Consortium | $99,500 |
| Sumas | $98,880 |
| Sumner | $95,000 |
| Tukwila | $109,250 |
| Tumwater | $48,000 |
| Washougal | $100,000 |
The grant funds come from the Growth Management Planning and Environmental
Review Fund established last year. The Legislature enacted recommendations
from the Governor's Task Force on Regulatory Reform designed to
better coordinate the state's land use and environmental laws.
The task force's recommendations were the result of a two-year
effort by a broad range of interest groups and citizens.
"These grants strengthen the effectiveness of growth management
planning in the state," said Lowry. "They help communities
by getting the environmental review done 'up-front' so everyone
knows what's going to happen when projects come in for review."
For more information, contact Steve Wells, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-753-2222.