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RCW 36.70A.020 <br />Planning goals. <br />The following goals are adopted to guide the development and adoption of <br />comprehensive plans and development regulations of those counties and cities that are <br />required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040. The following goals are not listed in order <br />of priority and shall be used exclusively for the purpose of guiding the development of <br />comprehensive plans and development regulations: <br />(1) Urban growth. Encourage development in urban areas where adequate public <br />facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner. <br />(2) Reduce sprawl. Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into <br />sprawling, low-density development. <br />(3) Transportation. Encourage efficient multimodal transportation systems that are <br />based on regional priorities and coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans. <br />(4) Housing. Encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments <br />of the population of this state, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, <br />and encourage preservation of existing housing stock. <br />(5) Economic development. Encourage economic development throughout the state <br />that is consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all <br />citizens of this state, especially for unemployed and for disadvantaged persons, promote the <br />retention and expansion of existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses, recognize <br />regional differences impacting economic development opportunities, and encourage growth in <br />areas experiencing insufficient economic growth, all within the capacities of the state's natural <br />resources, public services, and public facilities. <br />(6) Property rights. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just <br />compensation having been made. The property rights of landowners shall be protected from <br />arbitrary and discriminatory actions. <br />(7) Permits. Applications for both state and local government permits should be <br />processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability. <br />(8) Natural resource industries. Maintain and enhance natural resource-based <br />industries, including productive timber, agricultural, and fisheries industries. Encourage the <br />conservation of productive forestlands and productive agricultural lands, and discourage <br />incompatible uses. <br />(9) Open space and recreation. Retain open space, enhance recreational <br />opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and <br />water, and develop parks and recreation facilities. <br />(10) Environment. Protect the environment and enhance the state's high quality of life, <br />including air and water quality, and the availability of water. <br />(11) Citizen participation and coordination. Encourage the involvement of citizens in <br />the planning process and ensure coordination between communities and jurisdictions to <br />reconcile conflicts. <br />(12) Public facilities and services. Ensure that those public facilities and services <br />necessary to support development shall be adequate to serve the development at the time the <br />development is available for occupancy and use without decreasing current service levels <br />below locally established minimum standards. <br />(13) Historic preservation. Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and <br />structures, that have historical or archaeological significance. <br />