We assist and guide local governments, state agencies, and others in planning and achieving effective solutions to manage growth and development, consistent with the Growth Management Act (GMA).
Growth Management Services provides assistance and guidance for planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) passed in 1990. It helps cities and counties preparing for future growth to comply with the GMA and to provide facilities, services, and housing consistent with the goals of the GMA. GMS accomplishes this through its many services: Providing technical and financial resources to help fully planning* local governments develop county-wide planning policies, comprehensive plans, and development regulations, including critical areas ordinances. Publishing guidebooks on chapters of the comprehensive plan including land use, transportation, capital facilities, and rural areas for counties. Reference material from the Land Use Study Commission (LUSC). Helping counties and cities plan to conserve and protect their unique resource lands and critical areas. Reviewing and providing comments on local governments’ plans and regulations. Presenting educational workshops and the Short Course on Local Planning for planning commissioners, local officials, and citizens. Supplying minimum guidelines for resource lands and critical areas and procedural criteria for carrying out the Growth Management Act.
What is the Growth Management Act (GMA)? - In 1990 the Legislature found that “uncoordinated and unplanned growth, together with a lack of common goals… pose a threat to the environment, sustainable economic development, and the health, safety, and high quality of life enjoyed by residents of this state. It is in the public interest that citizens, communities, local governments, and the private sector cooperate and coordinate with one another in comprehensive land use planning.” (RCW 36.70A.010) This is the foundation for the Growth Management Act (GMA).
Growth Management Services Staff Growth Management Grants - We administer the Growth Management Grants Program to help local governments pay for work completed to comply with Growth Management Act requirements. All counties and cities subject to RCW 36.70A.040 are eligible. Grants may be expended for any purpose directly related to the preparation and adoption of comprehensive plans and development regulations; conducting of surveys, data gathering and management activities, retention of planning consultants and other related purposes. Update Grants, Competitive Grants, Newly Planning Grants, Columbia River Gorge Grants, Compliance Grants, Emerging Issues Grants GMA 101: A Presentation on the Basics of the Growth Management Act
A comprehensive plan is a land use document that provides the framework and policy direction for land use decisions. Under Washington state’s Growth Management Act (GMA), the plans contain the following chapters: land use, transportation, housing, capital facilities, utilities, shorelines, and rural (for counties). Chapters addressing economic development and parks and recreation also are required, if state funding is provided. Optional chapters may be included such as: conservation, energy, recreation, and subarea plans where appropriate. For more details (Includes further explanations and examples from Comprehensive Plans for: Port Townsend, City of Renton, Chelan County, Franklin County and King County)
The growth management press kit offers an overview of the requirements of the Growth Management Act and the services provided by Growth Management Services, the unit of CTED that coordinates the agency’s growth management efforts. The items in the press kit include: Brochure – Growth Management in Washington State: It works Fact Sheet – Citizens Building a Better Washington (A brief description of the requirements of Washington’s Growth Management Act (GMA) and efforts by local governments to meet the goals of the GMA) Fact Sheet – State Supports Local Growth Management Efforts (Services offered by Growth Management Services) Program Reference Guide (A listing of Growth Management Services’ programs) Growth Management Services – Staff Directory (A listing of planning and technical staff) Publications Directory (A list of growth management publications) Growth Management Questions and Answers (Frequently asked questions, with answers, about growth management) For More Information About Growth Management Services Leonard Bauer, Managing Director Growth Management Services 906 Columbia St. SW PO Box 42525 Olympia WA 98504-2525 360.725.3000
The growth management press kit offers an overview of the requirements of the Growth Management Act and the services provided by Growth Management Services, the unit of CTED that coordinates the agency’s growth management efforts.
The items in the press kit include: