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Posts for Rural Uses

2026 Planning Legislation Simplifies Affordable Housing Development, Land Banking, Permitting, and More

May 20, 2026  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Housing ,  Land Use Administration ,  Rural Uses ,  New Legislation and Regulations

New bills from the 2026 state legislative session address local land use and planning by encouraging the development of STEP housing, allowing residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones, establishing a legal framework for land banking authority, and more.

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Expanded Housing Options for Counties Thanks to Two 2026 Bills

May 6, 2026  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Housing ,  Rural Uses ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Two new bills make it easier to develop more affordable housing options in rural areas of counties while also protecting rural character and natural resources. Counties should work to ensure that this new housing serves long-term and not short-term rental needs.

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Surface Mine Reclamation Program: Interaction with Local Governments

February 12, 2025  by  Rian Skov
Category:  Guest Author ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Rural Uses

Surface mines are regulated by a variety of agencies, including the local government in which a mine is located. But what happens when a mine has reached the end of its productiveness? Can the land be returned to its pre-mining state, and which agency oversees this process?

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A close up of rows of berries at the Whatcom County Farmer's Market

Planning for Local Food Systems: A Whatcom County Case Study, Part 1

May 22, 2023  by  Lisa Pool ,  Ali Jensen
Category:  Guest Author ,  Climate and Sustainability ,  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Rural Uses

What is a local food system plan and why would a local government want to develop one? Whatcom County is one of a few local governments statewide developing such a plan, and county staff share insight into the process. 

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2022 Growth Management Act-Related Bills

June 30, 2022  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Housing ,  Rural Uses ,  New Legislation and Regulations

New legislation related to the Growth Management Act (GMA) will expand tribal participation, limit appeals for actions to increase housing supply, change periodic update timelines, provide additional options for limited areas of more intense rural development (LAMIRDs), and more.

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