Current Short Course Schedule - Updated February 1, 2012
New to the Short Course technical assistance: On-line education Short Course videos
One of several ways in which Growth Management Services provides direct assistance to local governments is through the Short Course on Local Planning.
The Short Course was created more than 35 years ago to provide basic education about land use planning to the citizens of Washington State. Co-sponsored by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the
Planning Association of Washington (PAW), the course is administered by Growth Management Services within Commerce. Since 2009, the
Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA) has co-sponsored courses hosted by members of their insurance pool as a strategy to reduce land use liability.
All courses are offered at no charge and open to the public.
The Short Course is a three-hour workshop which covers the legal basis of planning in Washington State, explains the basics of comprehensive planning and plan implementation, and discusses the role of the planning commission. Presented by professional planners and attorneys to audiences made up of local elected officials, planning commissioners, professional staff and interested citizens, the course encourages and facilitates civic engagement.
All persons attending the course receive handouts prepared by the speakers, and are referred to the on-line version of the Short Course on Local Planning Manual. The manual covers state planning requirements, citizen participation, growth management, constitutional issues, development tools, environmental legislation, shoreline regulations, county/tribal relations, transportation planning and annexation procedures. For those without internet access, a Short Course Manual CD is available upon request after the course or by calling 360-725-3000.
Until recently, the Short Course has been presented 30-40 times a year upon request, however, in response to state budget and staffing reductions, several new directions are being implemented:
- Targeted regional courses are being pre-scheduled throughout the state, and hosted by local jurisdictions, colleges or universities, or presented at planning conferences. The total number of courses per year will be approximately 20.
- A limited number of these courses are being customized to address special topics.
- Efforts are underway to record course content for online access.
- Moderators for each course are being provided by Commerce or PAW.
- Co-sponsorships and partnerships are being encouraged to support the Short Course.
Short Course Contact Information: Janet Rogerson, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Growth Management Services, at 360.725.3047 or email inquiries to:
Janet Rogerson
A Short Course On Local Planning (Short Course Manual) - Resource Guide, 369 pages, Version 5.1, July 2009.
A resource guide to accompany the Short Course on Local Planning, developed by the Planning Association of Washington and the State of Washington Department of Commerce.
Select the Table of Contents individual sections or Chapter (1-10) links below
from the Short Course Manual, July 2009
Introduction
New To Planning Commission: Frequently Asked Questions
Chapter 1. Legal and Practical Objectives of Planning
A. The Planning Model in Washington
B. The Constitutional Basis for Planning
C. The Statutory Basis for Planning
D. Endnotes for Chapter 1
Chapter 2. Citizen Participation and the Public Process
Part 1: Citizen Participation
A. What is Citizen Participation?
B. Who Should be Involved
C. Citizen Involvement: A Matter of Timing
D. Methods for Encouraging Citizen Participation
Part 2: The Public Process
A. Public Meetings/Executive Sessions
B. Public Documents/Confidential Documents
C. Appearance of Fairness
D. Public Decisions and Creation of Records
Chapter 3. The Growth Management Act
A. Origins of Growth Management
B. The Primacy of the Comprehensive Plan
C. The Goals of Growth Management Planning
D. Who Must Plan?
E. Building on Your Community’s Growth Management Legacy Past Accomplishments and Current Challenges
F. Growth Management Hearings Boards
G. Integrated Project Review
H. Where to Go for Further Information
I. Endnotes for Chapter 3
Appendix 1: Growth Management Services: Planner Assignments Map
Appendix 2: Whatcom County-wide Planning Policies
Appendix 3: Skagit County-wide Planning Policies
Chapter 4. Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities in Planning
A. Due Process
B. The Taking Issue
Chapter 5. Development Tools and Techniques
A. Community Development Regulations and Official Controls
B. Platting and Permits: The Development Process
C. Vested Rights
D. Development Fees/Impact Fees
E. Development Limitations – The Final Word
F. Financing Public Improvements
G. Endnotes for Chapter 5
Chapter 6. Planning and Environmental Legislation
A. State Environmental Policy Act
B. Water Quality Protection
C. Endnotes for Chapter 6
Chapter 7. The Shoreline Management Act
A. Overview
B. Shoreline Master Programs
C. Permits and Decisions
D. Endnotes for Chapter 7
Chapter 8. County/Tribal Planning Issues
A. Coordinating With Tribal Governments
B. Indian Tribes of Washington State
Chapter 9. Transportation Planning in Washington
A. Introduction
B. Fundamentals of Transportation Planning
C. Statewide Transportation Planning
D. Transportation Improvement Program and State Transportation Improvement Program
E. Endnotes for Chapter 9
Chapter 10. Annexation Procedures
A. Why Annex?
B. The Evaluation of Annexation Proposals
C. Consequences of Annexation
D. Preliminary Matters
E. Methods of Annexation in First, Second, Third, and Fourth Class Municipalities
F. Methods of Annexation in Code Cities
G. Review Boards
H. Endnotes for Chapter 10