Planners' Monthly Newsletter, October 2026

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OCT. 15, 2026

Planners' Monthly Newsletter

October 2026

Happy trails, Dave Andersen!

If you’ve worked on growth management in Washington in the last 25 years, Dave Andersen probably had a hand in it.

Through four governors, 23 legislative sessions, 12 biennial budgets and three periodic update cycles, Dave helped shape and steer the planning profession.

Now, after a quarter century at Commerce, Dave is retiring. His last day as managing director will be Oct. 30.

Dave’s impact shows up in the rules and tools planners use every day. He oversaw a complete rewrite of the WAC governing the Growth Management Act and helped lead the Collaborative Roadmap to Washington’s Future. When budgets got tight in the last periodic update cycle, Dave stood up and won back funding for local planning.

From Olympia to Spokane and beyond, Dave has been recognized for his contributions to the field. He twice received the Meyer Wolfe Award for Professional Achievement, earned the Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award in 2023, and this year was into inducted the American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows.

Dave can’t be replaced, but the capable team he cultivated and mentored is ready to carry his work forward. Please join us in thanking Dave and wishing him a well-earned retirement.

Keep on rockin’ in the free world, Dave!

Missed us at APA? We’ve got you covered!

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the American Planning Association Washington Chapter conference last week.

Staff led or joined sessions on everything from state housing policy and parking reform to climate action and working with tribes.

Couldn’t make it? Here’s some of what we covered:

Curious where state housing policy is headed? Follow the Washington Accelerator for Residential Production (WARP) for upcoming meetings and ways to weigh in. The Department of Housing Task Force is also developing recommendations for a new state housing agency.

Putting parking reform into practice? Start with our Guidance for Implementing State Parking Requirements.

Manufactured homes have come a long way. The Non-traditional Homes Fact Sheet covers them as a faster, lower-cost housing option.

Working on lot splits? Our Residential Lot Split Fact Sheet breaks down the latest guidance.

Questions about a session? Get in touch!

Latest CHIP round draws strong interest

The latest round of the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program closed in September. We received 83 applications requesting roughly $88 million, nearly three times the $31 million available. We are reviewing applications now and expect to announce awards in January.

Follow the CHIP webpage for updates.

STEP planning: Draft guidance update and new webpage

We are seeking feedback on a draft update to our guide to planning for shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing and permanent supportive housing, collectively known as STEP. The updated guide reflects changes made to state law by House Bill 2266 (2026).

Download the draft STEP guide (PDF)

Comments can be submitted by email to Laura Hodgson at Laura.Hodgson@Commerce.wa.gov. Comments must be received by Nov. 13.

Webinar: We will host a webinar at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29 to explain updates to the document, answer questions and gather feedback.

Find more information on the new STEP Planning webpage.

Grants awarded to streamline permitting

Commerce recently awarded grants to eight local governments to modernize and streamline their permitting systems. Many of the current systems are more than 20 years old and can’t accept digital applications.

Reminder: Periodic Update Grant deadlines

Please remember the deadline to execute a fully-signed contract for Periodic Update Grant funding is:

Nov. 2, 2026: For jurisdictions with periodic updates due December 2026.

Jan. 15, 2027: For jurisdictions with periodic updates due June 2027.

Contact your regional planner with any questions.

WE'RE HIRING

Senior Planner

We're hiring for a Senior Planner on the Eastern Regional Team. This position will:

Review comprehensive plans, critical areas ordinances and development regulations
Provide comment and technical assistance to local governments
Serve as the subject matter expert on essential public facilities and school siting.
Develop workshops for the Eastern Washington Planners’ Forum.

Apply by Oct. 25: Senior Planner

Housing Incentive Specialist

We're hiring for a Housing Incentive Specialist. This part-time, non-permanent position is a great opportunity for a planning student or recent graduate. This position will:

Collect and prepare historical affordable housing data
Assist with gathering background materials on housing-related topics
Assist with organizing housing planning materials for review

Apply by Oct. 25: Housing Incentive Specialist

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join WARP meetings to help shape housing recommendations

Commerce is leading Washington Accelerator for Residential Production (WARP) to develop recommendations to eliminate barriers to housing production. We want to hear from folks with direct experience building housing in Washington. Join us at an upcoming meeting:

Nov. 5: Incentives and project feasibility

Dec. 3: Regulations and permitting

Jan. 6: Innovative housing types

Jan. 27: Financing, legal, insurance, real estate and taxes

Feb. 10: Construction costs

Housing element drop-in office hours

Have questions about the housing element or Growth Management Act (GMA) housing planning requirements? Commerce is hosting housing element drop-in office hours the third Thursday of every month. Bring your questions and any material you would like to discuss.

Short Course on Local Planning

The Short Course on Local Planning offers an overview of land use planning laws in Washington and an introduction to comprehensive planning under the Growth Management Act. All courses are free and open to the public.

Upcoming Short Courses

Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council Conference (in-person)

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20

Where: Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee

Planners’ Forums

Commerce presents the Regional Planners’ Forums in partnership with the Planning Association of Washington and Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. These forums offer a free opportunity for planners, officials and community members to talk informally about local issues, share ideas and receive updates from state and federal agencies.

Eastern Planners’ Forum - Tuesday Nov. 10

Northwest Planners’ Forum - Thursday, Oct. 29

Tribal Planners’ Forum - Thursday, Nov. 12

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Puget Sound Partnership: Lunch-and-learn series explores Future Scenarios

The Puget Sound Partnership is hosting four lunch-and-learn sessions on possible futures for Puget Sound. Sessions are for anyone whose work shapes the region — planners, public works staff, farmers and recovery partners.

Working Lands — Oct. 19, 12 p.m. What happens to working lands when population growth and conservation are distributed differently across the region.

Salmon Habitat — Nov. 10, 12:30 p.m. What levers can improve outcomes for floodplains, riparian areas and shorelines as the region grows.

Human Wellbeing and Equity — Dec. 3, 12:30 p.m. How land use connects to health, wellbeing and equity under different futures.

Contact Laura Rivas at Laura.Rivas@psp.wa.gov with any questions.

MRSC: Creating a user-friendly zoning code

Zoning codes are rarely easy to navigate, but given their importance, they should be accessible and user-friendly. In the first of a two-part series, the Municipal Research and Services Center breaks down steps to create a user-friendly zoning code.

Read: MRSC - Creating a User-Friendly Zoning Code

WGS: New Alaska Tsunami model results

Washington’s greatest distant tsunami hazard is from the Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone (AASZ). Earthquakes there have generated more than 80 tsunamis in the last 240 years, some of which have damaged coastal Washington. To help prepare for future Alaskan tsunamis, the Washington Geological Survey completed a statewide tsunami inundation modeling for an AASZ tsunami. You can download the report and all data is available on the Geologic Information Portal.

Contact

For questions or feedback about this newsletter, please contact Will Isern at Will.Isern@Commerce.wa.gov.

About Commerce

Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department’s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and effective public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com.

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