The Washington State Office of Community Development (OCD) is awarding more than $5.4 million to 214 local governments across the state.
Pierce County is set to receive $78,750, while the City of Tacoma will get $60,000.
We are extremely pleased that the Legislature and the governor have made these funds available to local governments, said Busse Nutley, director of OCD.
Local governments have done some excellent work on their first comprehensive plans and regulations under the Growth Management Act (GMA). With this funding, the state will be able to help them revisit that work and decide how to update it.
The grants will help communities review and update plans and regulations adopted under the GMA.
Counties and cities required to meet all GMA planning requirements, including the preparation of comprehensive plans and developmental regulation, must review, and if necessary, revise plans and regulations, including critical areas and natural resource lands ordinances, by Sept. 1, 2002.
Local governments planning under the GMA only for critical areas and resource lands must evaluate their ordinances and designations by that date.
The grants for the 2001-2003 biennium range from $3,000 dollars for small towns in jurisdictions planning for critical areas and resource lands only all the way up to $86,250 for large counties with a full set of planning requirements.
Here is the breakdown of grants awarded to other communities in Pierce County:
Lakewood – $52,500
Puyallup – $36,750
University Place – $28,750
Bonney Lake, Gig Harbor, Steilacoom and Sumner – $15,750
Eatonville, Fife, Fircrest, Milton – $10,500
Buckley and Orting – $10,000
Roy, Ruston Way, South Prairie and Wilkeson – $5,250
Carbonado – $5,000
All eligible communities that applied received an award.