Futurewise offers a number of publications in PDF format. In order to view each report, you will need the Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader. Click here if you need to download the Reader.

Newsletters

Summer 2008 Futurewise Outlook

Winter 2008 Futurewise Outlook

Fall 2007 Futurewise Outlook

Summer 2007 Futurewise Outlook

Spring 2007 Futurewise Outlook

October 2006 Futurewise Outlook

July 2006 Futurewise Outlook

March 2006 Futurewise Outlook

December 2005 Futurewise Outlook

June 2005 Futurewise Outlook

February 2005 Futurewise Outlook

Reports

Futurewise, under its former name 1000 Friends of Washington, has written and released numerous reports that cover transit-oriented development, taxes that subsidize sprawl, the Growth Management Act, and how citizens can effectively participate in the planning process.

While some of the information may be a bit dated, the general thrust of the reports remains as timely as ever.

Futurewise Citizen’s Guide to Petitioning Growth Management Hearings Boards for Review of Local Legislative Actions. The Growth Management and Shoreline Management Acts are dependent on citizens and public interest organizations to enforce the law’s mandate.  This guide describes the process by which a citizen or group can bring a challenge under these Acts before a Growth Management Hearings Board, including which types of cases can be brought in front of a Board, the need to participate in the public comment process in order to gain standing, and the steps to a Board appeal.

Places to Play:  Solving Snohomish County's Youth Sports Fields Shortage (2005) - A report on the status of ballfields in Snohomish County and a four-point plan to solve the problem.

Critical Areas Ordinance Updates: An Overview of What is Required (2005) – Futurewise originally prepared this analysis for the 2005 Environmental & Land Use Law Section, Washington State Bar Association Midyear Meeting and Seminar.  It summarizes the requirements to designate and protect critical areas, the periodic update requirements for critical areas regulations and why the legislature adopted them, and the best available science requirement.  Critical Areas regulations updates are required for all counties and cities in Washington State.

Read Me – Documents on the CAO on a CD March 2007 – This is the table of contents to the Futurewise CAO on a CD.  It lists a broad array of public domain scientific studies useful in reviewing and updating critical areas policies and regulations.  It also includes guides to the update process and critical areas regulations.  You can click on the links in Read Me and download the study or guide.  You can also request a copy of the CAO on a CD from Futurewise.  Call Tim Trohimovich at 206-343-0681.

Planning for Sustainable Rural Areas (2005) – Explains the Growth Management Act’s (GMA's) requirements for planning for the rural area and the rural element required for all counties fully planning under the GMA.

Growth Management Fact Sheet: Encouraging Urban Growth in Urban Growth Areas (2005) – This fact sheet, oriented to the policy maker and citizen, summarizes why urban land needs to be used efficiently, including the four dwelling unit per net acre safe harbor for urban areas.  The fact sheet also includes a question and answer section.

Compact Urban Development: Requirements & Safe Harbors, Buildable Lands Reports, & Reasonable Measures (2005) – This report, oriented to the technical reader, summarizes the Growth Management Act provisions for wisely using urban land, including the four dwelling unit per acre safe harbor, and requirements for Buildable Lands Reports.  Links to Buildable Lands Reports are included.

Untold Value: Nature’s Services in Washington State (2004) – Washington’s natural environment provides services needed by people and the Washington economy such as recharging ground water which replenishes wells and reducing flood damage.  Untold Value synthesizes the current state of knowledge of the value of these services.  This report was prepared by the Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange in cooperation with Futurewise.  The report was produced through funding from the Public Involvement and Education Project, financed by proceeds from the Washington State Water Quality Account, and administered by the Puget Sound Action Team.

Smart Development: An Analysis of 10 Common Myths About Development (2004) – This report analyzes and responds to ten common myths about well planned development.  This report was prepared by the Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange in cooperation with Futurewise.  The report was produced through funding from the Public Involvement and Education Project, financed by proceeds from the Washington State Water Quality Account, and administered by the Puget Sound Action Team.

How the Growth Management Act Changed Annexation and Current Issues in Annexation (2004) - Describes the changes to the annexation process brought about by the GMA and identifies current issues and ways to resolve them.

Transit-Oriented Development: A Review of King County Cities (2003) - Explains tools that encourage transit-oriented development, examples in the Puget Sound region, barriers to its use and summaries of six King County cities.