Planned Action
This page provides a brief overview of "planned action" projects for local governments in Washington State under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), including examples of documents.
For more information on SEPA generally, see our page State Environmental Policy Act.
Overview
A planned action is a plan for a specific geographic area whose impacts have been addressed by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before individual development projects are proposed. A planned action involves detailed State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review and preparation of EIS documents in conjunction with subarea plans, consistent with RCW 43.21C.440, RCW 43.21C.031, and WAC 197-11-164 to 172. Such up-front analysis of impacts and mitigation measures replaces or simplifies environmental review of subsequent individual development projects.
General Resources
- Puget Sound Regional Council Housing Innovations Program Tool – Provides background on planned action as part of PRSC's Housing Innovations Program
- Washington State
- Department of Commerce EZ View Affordable Housing Resources – Planned Actions – Includes numerous examples of planned actions adopted to promote housing construction
- Department of Ecology (DOE) State Environmental Policy Act Handbook (2025) – See Chapter 7 on using SEPA in decision-making
- DOE SEPA Guide for Lead Agencies – Offers an overview of SEPA and includes planned actions and other flexible SEPA tools
Examples of Planned Action Subarea Plans and Ordinances
- Bellingham Waterfront District – Includes planned action ordinance, subarea plan, and development regulations
- Bothell Downtown Subarea Plan and Regulations – Includes a comprehensive plan and regulations for the downtown subarea, as well as appendices describing the planning process
- Bremerton Harrison Heights Subarea Plan – Includes an EIS, SEPA environmental checklist, ordinances, and market study
- Edmonds Highway 99 Planning Project – Includes adopting ordinance, final EIS, and development code
- Fife City Center Subarea Plan – Includes final EIS, subarea plan and comprehensive plan chapter, planned action ordinance, zoning changes, and other project documents
- Kirkland NE 85th Street Station Area Plan – Includes many documents, such as the planned action ordinance, multiple EIS, form-based code, design guidelines, and more
- Lake Stevens Planned Action Ord. 1075 (2019) – Updates 20th Street Corridor subarea plan and adopts EIS measures
- Mason County Belfair Urban Growth Area – Includes information on 2022 subarea plan, EIS, and link to planned action ordinance adopting both; also see the county's 2020 RFP for Planned Action EIS for Belfair
- Mountlake Terrace Town Center Subarea Plan – Includes plan description, final EIS
- Olympia Capital Mall Triangle Subarea Plan (2024) – Subarea plan for redevelopment of a retail commercial area that includes a shopping mall
- Puyallup Planned Action Ord. No. 3173 (2018) — Establishes Downtown Neighborhood planned action and adopts EIS measures
Examples of Planned Action Codes and Processes
- Gig Harbor Municipal Code Sec. 19.04.003 – Categorically exempt and planned actions
- Mill Creek Municipal Code Ch. 14.17 – Planned Actions
- Mountlake Terrace Municipal Code Ch. 19.90 – Town Center planned action
- Redmond Zoning Code Sec. 21.70.110 – Overlake SEPA Planned Action
- Spokane Municipal Code Ch 17C.420 – South Logan TOD Planned Action
