Planned Action

Overview

A planned action is a development project whose impacts have been addressed by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) associated with a plan for a specific geographic area before individual projects are proposed. A planned action involves detailed State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review and preparation of EIS documents in conjunction with sub-area plans, consistent with RCW 43.21C.031 and WAC 197-11-164 through WAC 197-11-172. Such up-front analysis of impacts and mitigation measures then facilitates environmental review of subsequent individual development projects.

General Resources

• Department of Ecology: State Environmental Policy Act Handbook – See Section 7 on SEPA and the GMA offering a very helpful overview of planned actions
• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC): Housing Innovations Program Tool – Provides background on planned action as part of PSRC's Housing Innovations Program (HIP)
• "Planned Action" SEPA Review: Cities' Experiences and Advice (2009) – Article by Deborah Munkberg

Examples of SEPA Planned Action Documents

• Bellingham
  • Ordinance No. 2013-12-091 (2013) – Establishing Waterfront District Planned Action
  • Waterfront District Planned Action Ordinance Summary for Waterfront Advisory Group (2012)
• Bothell Downtown Subarea Plan and Regulations Planned Action Final EIS (2009) – Includes notice, DEIS, FEIS, appendices, and downtown planned action determination review checklist
• Edmonds Planned Action Final EIS for the Highway 99 Subarea Plan (2017) – Compares alternative strategies for EIS and Planned Action implementation
• Everett Addendum to the Final EIS for the Everett GMA Comprehensive Plan (2018)
• Kirkland NE 85th Station Area Plan and Planned Action - Draft Supplemental EIS (2021) – Comprehensive plan land use and zoning code amendments
• Mountlake Terrace Town Center Plan Update Draft Supplemental EIS (2019)
• Puyallup Planned Action Ordinance No. 3173 (2018) – Establishes Downtown Neighborhood Planned Action and adopts EIS measures
• Tacoma Mall Neighborhood Subarea Plan – Includes an amended ordinance, subarea plan, and subarea FEIS
• Sammamish Town Center Sub-Area Plan Final EIS (2007)

Examples of Planned Action Codes and Process

• Bremerton Eastside Employment Draft EIS (2020) – Includes a fact sheet detailing the EIS process
• Gig Harbor Municipal Code Sec. 19.04.003 – Categorically exempt and planned actions
• Mill Creek
  • Municipal Code Ch. 14.17– Planned Actions
  • Consolidated Development Permit and Environmental Review (2018) – Generalized planned action process
• Mountlake Terrace Municipal Code Ch. 19.90 – Town center planned action