The Office of Financial Management (OFM) has posted its annual population update, which shows continued growth in the Puget Sound region. As of April 1, 2021, King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties added 66,200 people. According to The Seattle Times, the Seattle metropolitan area, which includes King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, now exceeds 4 million people.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently finalized maps identifying Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas statewide concerning fire protection requirements and minimum standards.

The King County Council this week voted unanimously to adopt legislation that requires new development to install electric vehicle ready or electric vehicle supply equipment in parking. In addition to an amendment to remove the requirement for single family, cottage housing and some attached townhome development as defined in code, this measure also provides clarification around load management technology when serving multiple EVSE spaces simultaneously.

The Growth Management Hearings Board (Board) last week invalidated the city of Sammamish’s April 2021 concurrency moratorium. This is the third invalidation order the Board has issued to the city since 2019.

Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) is drafting three growth alternatives related to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update. Scheduled for release in October of this year, the alternatives will be high level looks at options for County Council consideration, one of which will be a “no-action” alternative.