Resolution 6685 - Laserfiche WebLink

4. VISION 2040 and the Countywide Planning Policies. VISION 2040 is a shared strategy for moving the Central Puget Sound region toward a sustainable future. It includes a long range growth management, environmental, economic and transportation strategy for the region. It is comprised of 4 parts: Part one addresses environmental stewardship and sustainability. Part 2 contains the Regional Growth Strategy. Part 3 contains the Multi- County Planning Policies. Part 4 addresses monitoring and implementation. The Snohomish Countywide Planning Policies are required to be consistent with VISION 2040. Amendments are proposed throughout the Comprehensive Plan to incorporate the goals and concepts of VISION 2040 and to provide consistency with the Snohomish County Countywide Planning Policies, with an emphasis on the following topics: • Healthy communities/quality of life - Include provisions that address a sustainable, healthy environment,physical activity and well-being, livability, and safety. Recognize the work being led by the Snohomish Health District regarding the healthy communities' concepts. • Climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Include provisions such as the following: o Decisions on land use, transportation, and economic and social infrastructure should include ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide for"soft" solutions to address traditional needs and emerging challenges. o Support implementation of the state's climate change initiative and work towards developing a common framework to analyze climate change impacts under SEPA. o Increase energy conservation and alternative/clean energy. o Include guidelines for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building. o Use natural systems to reduce carbon in the atmosphere by maintaining and increasing forests and vegetative cover. o Establish a planning framework to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to impacts of climate change. o Incorporate recommendations from International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). • Air quality—Initiatives to ensure air quality meets or is better than established state and federal standards. Incorporate the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's adopted growth management policies into the comprehensive plan where not already included. • Concentrate growth in centers and other activity nodes. • Sustainable funding—Explore new and existing sources of funding for services and infrastructure. Demonstrate how priority is given to funding transportation infrastructure and economic development to support Everett's regional growth center and regional manufacturing/industrial centers, and other activity nodes; and to services and infrastructure that explicitly advance the development of housing in designated regional growth centers. Give additional priority to projects and services that advance affordable housing. 5. Changes will be made throughout the Comprehensive Plan to increase readability. 3