July 2023 news & updates
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President's Message
Hello PAW Friends,

It’s summertime in Washington! This means different things depending on your location maybe trips to the lake, the beach, or the forest; maybe the end of your fiscal year followed by a new beginning; maybe you have trips or staycations planned for vacation… whatever your summer brings I hope you find some relaxation and fun.

This last week I read two articles that brought me renewed hope in different ways.

First, a June article from The Urbanist on a new tool created by the Urban Institute that uses innovative technology to assist in station area planning. The tool helps visualize increased density and intensity around Puget Sound transit. The article promotes increased zoning densities, density bonuses near transit, allowing construction of multifamily housing in commercial and retail only zones, and removing barriers to middle housing developments. The tool allows jurisdictions to choose different transit types and different density tools to visualize the impact of the changes. 
Photo Credit: Flathead Beacon Hunter DAntuono
Second, an article celebrating the release of wild bison on tribal lands held by the Blackfeet Nation. The release of the wild bison alone is a wonderful cause for celebration. I personally love bison, they are big and deliberate, a huge part of the history of the lands where we live. The bison are also a keystone species and their release will mean increased soil health and biodiversity. However, the article accurately described the destruction of the bison as an intentional destruction of the indigenous way of life. This demonstrates a shift in the way we understand and talk about the history of Indigenous people. If you want to learn more about the Blackfeet Nation Buffalo Program, their Facebook page is the best resource.

We know planning is not a one-size fits all practice, and that innovative and diverse tools are needed to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Both of these tools will improve the future of our communities. One tool, used to understand and visualize increasing the density and intensity in our urban areas and access to transit. The other, providing a new tool for ecological, economic, and cultural recovery thanks to the expert stewardship of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

In closing, if you are attending a conference this summer or fall I wish you safe travels. Please, take pictures of Washington as you travel and submit them for our next newsletter. If you are attending APAWA’s conference in Spokane, I’ll see you there (please say hi to me and let me know if you want to see some of my favorite Spokane spots).

With hope for our shared futures, 
Mary M. Reinbold, AICP
PAW Board President, 2023-2025
2023 Legislative Recap
By Mary M. Reinbold, AICP
The 2023 legislative session was fast-paced and impactful for residential construction and planning. This article is an attempt to highlight bills PAW thinks planners should know. We should note that this list, organized by bill number, does not provide legal advice or advocate a policy position. While this list is long, I hope it provides an easy resource for understanding some of the planning impacts of the 2023 Legislative session.
2023 EXCELLENCE IN PLANNING AWARDEES HONORED AT PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON (PAW) CONFERENCE
CHELAN, WA
April 27, 2023

For the 37th year, the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-WA) and the Planning Association of Washington (PAW) jointly honored outstanding contributions to the field of planning in Washington State. The award program goals are to recognize great planning efforts in Washington, promote excellent planning in government and the private sector, and increase public awareness of the roles of APA-WA and PAW in supporting outstanding planning in Washington State. Seven projects were presented with awards in the categories of Comprehensive Planning, Community Involvement, Implementation, Sustainability, and Transportation Planning.
 
2023 AWARDEES
 
City of Spokane
Category: Comprehensive Plan, Large Cities & Counties
 
SCJ Alliance
Category: Comprehensive Plan, Small Cities & Counties
 
City of Tumwater
Category: Sustainability
 
City of Bellevue
Category: Transportation Planning
 
FRAMEWORK, City of Olympia
Category: Community Involvement
 
City of Tacoma
Categories: Implementation
 
LDC with PRR, Confluence Environmental and SCJ Alliance
Category: Implementation
Save the Dates: 2023 PAW Bootcamps
Please save the dates for our 2023 PAW Bootcamps!


Digging into Comprehensive Plan Updates: November 16, 2023, in Tumwater, WA
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