A Message from the President
Greetings Members!

Spring is an exciting time at the Planning Association of Washington. Not only do we get to experience the changing seasons, we also get ready for our annual conference. This year, however, is unlike any other for a few reasons. 
  1. This year’s conference will have t-shirts! I don’t know about you but I love the conference committee’s choice of theme and logo and I can’t wait to get my t-shirt and wear it proudly. 
  2. The conference registration is full and a waitlist is currently open. Can you believe it? For 60 years PAW has been a trusted source for planning education and we feel so lucky to see the benefits of our hard work to respond to educational needs. 
  3. We’re preparing proposed changes to the PAW by-laws. PAW will host our annual meeting during the conference which will include board elections and a vote on proposed changes to our by-laws. 
That being said, your PAW Board has been hard at work with “business as usual.” We have been working to develop six webinars and two day-long trainings for the year. We have been reviewing the strategic plan and budget to ensure we are staying aligned with our mission and in a financially strong position to continue this important work for years to come. 
While I hope to see you all in Chelan I know some folks won’t be there. So please join me in acknowledging Phil Olbrechts who has stepped down from the board to focus on his hearing examiner work and other personal and professional endeavors. Please feel free to send him a note of support or gratitude if you wish. 

Which brings me to my call for action – PAW has a board vacancy for a land use attorney or legal professional of similar background. Having an attorney on the board, familiar with land use, has been an invaluable resource in planning our educational events. While Phil has graciously agreed to continue his case law updates at the annual conference (Thanks Phil!) we still need this expertise on the board.
If you are interested please contact me directly at mary.reinbold@commerce.wa.gov. 

Sincerely, 
 
Mary M. Reinbold
AICP
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
Preservations Perspectives By Michelle Thompson
I wanted to write a few lines about the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Although many believe that listing on the NRHP comes with strict regulations about what changes a property owner can or can’t make to their building, this is simply a misconception. The NRHP is an honorary designation granted by the Secretary of the Interior through the National Park Service. Honorary, meaning that there is no regulation tied to inclusion on the NRHP. In fact, unless a historic resource is protected by local laws or designation, a property owner with a NRHP listed building may make any changes they want, including demolition.

The only time a property owner of a NRHP listed building may be directed as to what changes they can make to their property is if the owner is receiving financial incentives specifically for historic preservation purposes such as Federal Historic Tax Credits and grants. In almost all cases, a prerequisite for these preservation financial incentives includes listing on the NRHP. More on those financial incentives in a future column. Until then, you can read more about the NRHP here: https://dahp.wa.gov/historic-registers/national-register-of-historic-places.
PAW Annual Conference
The Planning Association of Washington is delighted to present our 2024 Annual Conference, April 24-26 at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan. This year’s theme is Planning: The Next Generation, and we have an exciting agenda with tracks focused on New Voyages, the changing landscape of requirements and the environment in our field, and Boldly Go, all about how the planning profession is evolving. The excitement around this year’s PAW conference is palpable! Currently, our registration is full and so is Campbell’s Resort is full for the nights of our conference. While we’re so happy to see you we know this might complicate your plans to attend the conference. PAW will be following up with a waitlist in the upcoming week.

Campbell’s does have a waitlist for cancellations. They have also set up alternative rooms at the Midtowner which is also a Campbell’s Property. As always, onsite parking at Campbell’s will be first come first serve. There are other lodging choices in Chelan, including the Riverwalk Inn & Café which is just across the street. For more lodging options you can visit the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce at this link.

Wednesday evening will include a reception, great for networking, followed by a Short Course. Thursday evening’s entertainment will be a return of planning trivia followed by a planning themed ukulele performance. CM will be available for conference sessions, including the Law CM through a Case Law Update presented by Phil Olbrechts. Please visit 2024 PAW Annual Conference - Planning Association of Washington for more information, including registration and room reservation details.
Thank you to our 2024 Annual Sponsors!
PLATINUM ANNUAL SPONSOR
VALUED ANNUAL SPONSOR
ANNUAL SUPPORTING SPONSORS
PAW FRIEND SPONSORS
PAW SPONSOR
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