Comprehensive Plans and Growth Management
What is it?
A Comprehensive Plan is a policy level document that guides land use designations and a foundation for codifying zoning and building permit approvals. It shows how to build livable communities to accommodate the predicted growth within the State of Washington’s designated Urban Growth boundaries over the next 20 years (see OFM’s GMA county projections). Financial and physical ability to extend public utilities (i.e. transportation) and other governmental services are the key limiting factors, which is why comprehensive plans must be developed by each jurisdiction. In 2025, a climate change impact assessment was added to the long list of elements that need to be considered.
Who is working on it in the Tri-Cities?
- Benton-Franklin Council of Governments – The designated agency to plan for transportation continuity across the regional. This agency maintains the regional transportation model, is a leader in transportation alternatives (walk, bike, role), and coordinates Federal and State Transportation Funding disbursements to the Jurisdictions. The Economic Development arm is managing a consultancy for development of a collaborative Climate Element for Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Pasco, and Benton County.
- Climate Policy Advisory Team – The Benton-Franklin Council of Governments (BFCOG) and five jurisdictions of Benton County, Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and West Richland are working together to plan for natural hazards related to climate such as wildfire smoke, drought, and extreme heat. Under a new state law that was adopted in 2023, each jurisdiction must do this work as part of updating its comprehensive plan. Comprehensive plans provide guidance for how each jurisdiction grows in the future. The five jurisdictions are all updating their comprehensive plans by 2026. In early 2025, members of Sustainable Tri-Cities, the Tri-Cities Chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and others, formed the Climate Opportunity Action team to advise the regional CPAT. A representative from each group is part of the team. The CPAT held public meetings in March to hear from residents about their experiences with climate hazards and to identify specific areas or individuals at risk. The STC/CCL Climate Opportunity Action Plan (COAP) team will continue to work with CPAT on updating our local comprehensive plans, and will continue afterwards to encourage the policies are put into place.
How can you help?
- Happening Now! Review the BFCOG’s Climate Element document that will be incorporated into each city’s next Comprehensive Plan.
- Local knowledge is key to updating comprehensive plans. Community input grounds plans in what is happening locally and people’s hopes for the future. To do a good job planning for natural hazards related to climate, BFCOG and the five jurisdictions need input from people living and working in the region. They want to hear about people’s experiences with these hazards and about specific places or people that are at risk.
- Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates on the Tri-Cities Climate Change Approach!
- Visit the BFCOG Climate Change page and sign up for the newsletter or attend a public meeting.
- Attend State and Local level workshops that are geared toward providing reliable climate data and collecting specific area concerns and overseeing the social justice aspects of the climate planning strategies.