This page will provide assistance in developing a Capital Facilities Plan.   It includes information about Capital Facility Planning, and a tool (MSWord and Excel spreadsheets)that will help you put together your Capital Facilities Plan.

Contact Information

Message phone:  360.725.3042 (we will return your call within 24 hours)
Email Capital Facilities Planning Template
Listserv address:  http://listserv.wa.gov/archives/cfp-list.html 
Lynn Kohn,  Senior Planner
Telephone: 360.725.3042

What are Capital Facilities?                  

Capital Facilities are the facilities needed to support growth, such as: roads, bridges, sewer, water and storm water facilities, public buildings, parks and recreation facilities. 

What is a Capital Facilities Plan?

The Capital Facilities Plan is a six to twenty year plan of capital projects with estimated costs and proposed methods of financing.  The capital facilities plan implements the land use plan.

Why do a Capital Facilities Plan? 

Capital Facilities Plans are required by State statute for jurisdictions planning under the Growth Management Act.  The specific requirements for the capital facility element are set forth in the Growth Management Act (GMA) (RCW 36.70A.070).

Planning ahead is good management.   Capital facilities plans can help your jurisdiction use its limited funding wisely and most efficiently to maximize your funding opportunities.  By planning ahead to determine what your needs are, you can prioritize projects, coordinate related projects, and apply successfully for loan and grant opportunities.

Doing your own plan is an investment in your future.  A Capital Facilities Plan is easy to maintain once you’ve invested the time in creating it.  Using the Washington State Department of Commerce Capital Facilities Plan Tool makes it even easier!

Link to CTED GMA and Capital Facilities Fact Sheet

What does a Capital Facilities Plan consist of? 

• An inventory of existing capital facilities owned by public entities, showing the locations and capacities of the capital facilities;
• A forecast of the future needs for such capital facilities;
• The proposed locations and capacities of expanded or new capital facilities;
• At least a six-year plan that will finance such capital facilities within projected funding capacities and clearly identifies sources of public money for such purposes;
• A requirement to reassess the land use element if probable funding falls short of meeting existing needs and to ensure that the land use element, capital facilities plan element, and financing plan within the capital facilities plan element are coordinated and consistent. Park and recreation facilities shall be included in the capital facilities plan element.

In addition to the capital facilities element cited above, Growth Management Act also requires a separate element for transportation facilities that has requirements similar to those of the capital facility element but which goes further by requiring specific regulatory measures (known as “concurrency”) to ensure adequate transportation facilities are available to serve new development. 
 ^{“The Third Promise of the Growth Management Act”, April 2007, Pat Dugan, Dugan Consulting Services, www.mrsc.org/focus/pladvisor/pla0407.aspx}

What is the Capital Facility Planning Tool?

The Capital Facilities Planning Tool is a set of Word and Excel templates that can be used to help inventory your capital assets, determine their condition and capacity, link capital facility needs with your comprehensive plan policies and prioritize projects as well as determine project costs and identify revenues.  Put it all together and you will have a capital facility plan that can be incorporated into your Comprehensive Plan. To share this information you can download The Capital Facilities Planning Tool Brochure.

How do I get the Capital Facilities Planning Tool?

Special Request Before You Download:  Before you download the free CFP tool, please complete a brief form. We are asking for your name, email address, job title, organization/entity, and option to join the listserv.  This information will help us to provide technical assistance and updates to the CFP tool.  You may unsubscribe from the listserv at any time.

Go to the Guided tour for each step of the Capital Facilities Planning Tool Template

NOTE:  Before you begin the tour please read through the information to get you started.  This will explain the documents you need to have ready and how to organize your files before you begin.

Download first 5 templates (Instructions included in the downloaded files) and work off line.

Template Download

1. Create a new folder in C:\ and name it CFP Template 2. Click here and choose save. 3. Save it to your C:\CFP Template folder. 4. Extract the files. 5. Begin by reading CFP instructions 6-26-08.doc

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Good Examples  
Why Plan?
Level  of Service Standards    
Links   
Listserv  

Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods

2008 OFM Infrastructure Study

Growth Management Effectiveness Study - Appendix D (Financing Information)

Rate Setting Tools:
-Boise State University Environmental Finance Center
-Rural Community Assistance Corporation’s Financial Toolbox

Relevant Laws and Rules    

Growth Management Hearings Board cases