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Land Use Planning
Climate Element in Comprehensive Plans
Legislation passed and signed into law in 2023 (HB 1181) adds a climate goal to the Growth Management Act (GMA) and requires local comprehensive plans to have a climate element with resilience and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation sub-elements. The Department of Commerce published early climate element planning guidance for comprehensive plans. Further updates are under development in response to HB 1181.
Growth Management Act Administrative Rules - Housing
The Department of Commerce is preparing to update administrative rules for the Growth Management Act (GMA) to reflect new legislation on housing, permitting, development regulations, urban growth areas, and rural development.
Growth Management Services (GMS) is actively working with local governments to ensure comprehensive plans and development regulations plan for and accommodate housing affordable to all economic segments of the population in Washington. Planning for housing now requires an inclusive and equity-driven approach to meet the housing needs for all residents at all income levels. Rulemaking will reflect new statutory requirements for urban growth areas, residential infill, planning for a variety of housing types, and considerations of racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in local housing policies.
Commerce will release a preliminary draft of proposed WAC amendments for public review in November 2023. Commerce will post new information to the project website once available: GMA Housing Rulemaking.
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Urban Agriculture
USDA Invests $7.4 Million in 25 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Efforts
Recipients include two projects in Washington.
USDA is investing $7.4 million in 25 selected grants that support urban agriculture and innovative production. Selected grant recipients, including community gardens and nonprofit farms, will increase food production and access in economically distressed communities, provide job training and education, and allow partners to develop business plans and zoning proposals. These grants build on $40 million in projects funded since 2020 and are part of USDA’s broad support for urban agriculture through its Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). Funding limits only allowed USDA to select the top scoring 10% of the applications reviewed. This year, USDA received more than 300 applications, which is twice last year’s applications. (Click here to read the full release.)
Two projects in Washington were funded:
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Living Well Kent Collaborative
Food System Transformation in Kent
This project will transform the food production system in South King County to improve food security and advance equity among historically marginalized BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee producers and consumers.
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OmniGro
OmniGro introduces a novel approach to urban farming and agriscience
This project will enhance the capacity of individuals, farmers, and organizations to generate healthy food for food insecure communities. Urban farming solutions like OmniGro can help fight climate change by reducing food transportation emissions, increasing carbon sequestration, and promoting sustainable land use practices. OmniGro also provides access to fresh, nutritious, locally grown food, which can reduce the carbon footprint of the food industry and promote healthier diet choices. Overall, OmniGro's urban farming solution can be a key strategy for creating more sustainable and resilient cities in the face of climate change.
For the complete list of recipients, click here.
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Updates from Natural Resources Conservation Service - Washington
Regional Conservation Partnership Program: Notice of Funding Opportunity
The application period is open for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. In addition to the funding opportunity, NRCS has embarked on a concerted effort to streamline and simplify RCPP and improve the experience for partners, producers and employees. Proposals are due August 18, 2023. Learn more here.
Annual Easement Monitoring: Reports Due September 1, 2023
All NRCS funded easements require annual monitoring. For NRCS non-stewardship programs, which include the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) and the Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program (FRPP), entities are responsible for completing annual monitoring reports and supplying them to NRCS within the current Federal fiscal year.
Entities with ACEP-ALE or FRPP easements must complete the NRCS annual monitoring report and submit it to NRCS via email to NRCS.WA.Easements@usda.gov no later than September 1, 2023. The reporting form is available for download from the Washington NRCS ACEP-ALE webpage under “Resources & Tool.”
The September 1 deadline allows NRCS-WA to input all monitoring data into their management systems to effectively report on monitoring by the end of the Federal fiscal year (September 30) as required by policy. Reporting metrics are reviewed by NRCS National Headquarters to assist in determining state allocation for farmland preservation programs.
Save the Date: Fiscal Year 2024 ACEP-ALE Kickoff Workshop
NRCS-WA is hosting an informational webinar on October 5, 2023, from 12-2:30 pm in preparation for the fiscal year 2024 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) sign-up. The workshop will be held via Microsoft Teams. Registration is not required. More information forthcoming.
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Resources
Examples of Innovative Partnerships
“Finding Common Ground: Land Trusts and CLTs Explore New Collaborations” from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy explores how conservation land trusts are partnering with community land trusts to pursue common goals.
Online Conservation Easements Course
This self-paced online course from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy explores the principles, real-world applications, controversies, and implications of conservation easements and reviews legal principles, valuation methods, and federal tax provisions.
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