Snohomish County Tomorrow is a Growth Management Advisory Council that advises the County on compliance with the Puget Sound Regional Council’s implementation of the GMA. The Planning Advisory Committee, a subcommittee made up of planning staff from cities and the county and other area agencies, met November 4, 2021, via Zoom.
Discussion included:
Population in Snohomish County is estimated to grow to 1,136,309 by 2044, the middle projection. Cities, towns, Urban Growth Centers, and rural areas were assigned population and employment targets that comply with the PSRC’s Vision 2050. Selection of the middle projection anticipates no need to expand Urban Growth Areas. If a higher population target is reported in 2022, the Council will consider docket proposals to expand UGAs.
The Road Map to Washington's Future Phase III functions within the WA Department of Commerce from now through June, 2023. A state budget proviso asked the Department of Commerce to come up with legislation to improve the GMA. The plan will recommend significant state funding to cities and counties, up to $12M per year to do the work to comply with GMA requirements. The task force is looking for feedback on several things including whether there should be a “safe harbor” for cities and counties that protect them from appeals.
Cascadia Innovation Corridor reported that the mega-region population 2020 to 2050 will grow to over 14,000,000 (3-5M increase). It could be 40% higher. Goals are to densify current urban centers, grow existing mid-size cities, build hub cities on currently underdeveloped land, and connect it all via Ultra-Highspeed Transportation. It would create new hub cities on underdeveloped land and next to high-speed transit stops 40-100 miles from existing urban areas among other things.