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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Review 4.12.2024 Climate and Resiliency Element COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 1 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Climate & Resilience Renton Comprehensive Plan Update  Element Policies Draft Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Updated: April 4, 2024 Summary of Updates Washington State Law:  GMA was amended in 2023 under HB 1181, which requires cities and counties to integrate climate mitigation and resilience into comprehensive plan updates.  Policies must result in reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT).  Policies must prioritize actions that benefit vulnerable communities and promote environmental justice. VISION 2050:  Substantially reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and reducing climate impacts.  Engaging in regional resilience planning and climate preparedness with a focus on equitable outcomes, particularly for vulnerable communities.  Helping cities and counties to incorporate emission reductions and adaptation measures in their comprehensive planning.  Guiding land use plan updates to improve climate adaptation and resilience and implement measures to address climate hazards. King County Countywide Planning Policies:  Climate action, mitigation, and resilience must be incorporated into comprehensive plans, focusing on sustainable land use, multimodal transportation, and energy infrastructure.  Plan for development patterns that minimize emissions and enhance resiliency. Plans to be Adopted by Reference:  Renton Clean Economy Strategy 2.0  Renton Trails and Bicycle Master Plan Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Summary of Updates COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 2 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024  Renton Transportation Improvement Program  Renton EV Implementation Plan  Stormwater Management Program Plan  Sustainable Materials Management Plan  Parks, Recreation, and Natural Areas Plan  Urban Forest Management Plan  Forthcoming plan addressing a circular economy and sustainable materials management  Hazard Mitigation Plan  2022 Stormwater Management Program Plan  Urban Forest Management Plan  Parks, Recreation, and Natural Areas Plan Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Discussion COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 3 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Discussion Washington State Law The Growth Management Act was amended in 2023 under Washington House Bill 1181, requiring cities and counties to integrate climate mitigation and resilience policies into comprehensive plan updates. These required policy changes will address climate emissions and impacts, while considering co-benefits and integration with other planning documents related to housing, transportation, and land use. Jurisdictions must adopt climate policies consistent with the Department of Commerce’s Climate Planning Guidance, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Policies must also consider and prioritize actions that benefit vulnerable communities and promote environmental justice. Puget Sound Regional Council VISION 2050 Renton's Climate Element aligns with VISION 2050 goals and actions related to climate change in the region, which include:  Substantially reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and reducing climate impacts.  Engaging in regional resilience planning and climate preparedness with a focus on equitable outcomes, particularly for vulnerable communities.  Helping cities and counties to incorporate emission reductions and adaptation measures in their comprehensive planning.  Guiding land use plan updates to improve climate adaptation and resilience and implement measures to address climate hazards. King County Countywide Planning Policies The King County Regional Growth Strategy emphasizes the importance of addressing climate impacts and enhancing policies for emissions reduction. The strategy envisions integrating climate action, mitigation, and resilience into local comprehensive plans, with a focus on sustainable land use, multimodal transportation, and energy infrastructure. The plan advocates for development patterns that minimize emissions and enhance resiliency through measures such as energy efficiency, electrification, natural resource restoration, and climate impact-ready infrastructure planning. Renton Clean Economy Strategy 2.0 Renton’s Clean Economy Strategy update (CES 2.0) serves as a roadmap of local policies to reduce Renton’s GHG emissions, enhance environmental sustainability, and prepare for climate change, while maintaining and building a strong economy. The CES 2.0 is rooted in the best available climate science, aligned with regional targets, and tailored to specific Renton community needs and priorities. The CES 2.0 provided a framework for the development of goals and policies for the Renton Climate Element and brings together city-wide planning efforts to move towards a vision of net zero emissions and community resilience in the face of climate impacts. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Implementation and Monitoring COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 4 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Implementation and Monitoring Discussion Under the GMA, counties and cities with specific population criteria must submit an implementation progress report to Commerce five years after revising their comprehensive plan. Additionally, they must adopt a work plan to implement necessary changes within two years of submitting the progress report. The Implementation and Monitoring section of Renton’s Climate Element supports monitoring and reporting on the GHG reduction targets adopted through the City’s Clean Economy Strategy 2.0, as well as monitoring changes to vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Renton has adopted the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) targets, as follows:  Reduce 2007 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.   Reduce 2007 greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2040.   Reduce 2007 greenhouse gas emissions by 95% and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Policies in this section also support monitoring and reporting on climate vulnerability and resilience policies to increase the City’s understanding of and capacity to respond to future climate impacts. Goals Table 1. Implementation and Monitoring Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-A: Increase the City’s capacity to monitor and report on climate action implementation.  Complies with HB1181 monitoring requirements. Policies Table 2. Implementation and Monitoring Policies Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-1: Consider the resources needed, such as partnerships (e.g., K4C), regular implementation progress reports, and City budgeting, to implement the Climate Element. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Implementation and Monitoring COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 5 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 2 Policy C-2: Monitor, assess, and publicly report on community-scale greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles travelled (VMT) every five years. Include emissions from all local sources associated with resident, business, and local government activities.  Complies with HB1181 monitoring requirements. 3 Policy C-3: Develop and periodically update a climate vulnerability assessment with a focus on the built environment, communities, and natural systems. Use assessment findings to evaluate changes to Comprehensive Plan goals and policies and enhance resilience. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 6 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Discussion The City of Renton completed a communitywide greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for 2019, detailed within the CES 2.0, which informed the identification of mitigation targets to assess the City’s progress over time. As shown in Figure 1, the largest emissions sources in 2019 were electricity (residential, commercial, and industrial) (40%), on-road transportation (25%), building natural gas (14%), and air travel1 (12%). Commercial electricity emissions were greater than both residential and industrial electricity emissions combined. During the CES 2.0 process, an emissions forecast for the city was also completed to identify strategies that would have the greatest GHG emissions reduction benefits going forward. The goals and policies in the GHG Emissions Reduction Sub-element are intended to reduce GHG emissions by minimizing or eliminating emissions within Renton’s largest emission sources, reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) within the city, sequester carbon through natural carbon sinks, and equitably distribute the benefits of GHG reduction. Figure 1. Renton’s 2019 communitywide GHG emissions, by source (%) Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 7 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Emissions Reductions in the Built Environment Zoning & Sustainable Development Zoning and sustainable development policy can provide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction outcomes related to land use, design, and various development aspects. In the short-term, new development introduces emissions from construction, production of materials, equipment operation, and development-related deliveries and transportation. However, ongoing operational emissions persist throughout a structure's lifetime. Reducing the use of natural gas, transitioning to fully electric buildings, and investing in community renewable energy can further decarbonize buildings and reduce emissions associated with building energy use. Additionally, promoting alternative land use and development codes, like mixed-use and transit-oriented development (TOD), can minimize long-term GHG emissions from new development; while building dense, affordable communities around high frequency transit can also enhance environmental justice priorities identified by the State and offer community benefits such as increasing housing supply and diversity, resilience to climate impacts, and cost savings. Goals Table 3. Zoning and Sustainable Development Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-B: Foster higher-intensity land uses in mixed-use centers, neighborhoods, and transit corridors that address the need for housing for all economic segments.  Complies with GHG emission reduction and VMT reduction requirements.  Supports housing supply and diversity; reduces emissions; promotes equity and justice. 2 Goal C-C: Support and incentivize building and energy codes and policies that reduce energy use, encourage sustainable construction practices, phase out fossil fuel use, and support clean energy.  Reduces emissions; promotes economic development. 3 Goal C-D: Increase the energy efficiency of existing buildings through retrofits that promote building decarbonization. These efforts will target the integration of renewable energy sources, implementation of energy-efficient systems, and the prioritization of lower-carbon building materials.  Complies with GHG emission reduction requirement.  Reduces emissions. Supporting Elements The Renton Comprehensive Plan includes a set of policies aimed at:  Fostering utility efficiency and decarbonization (Utilities Element).  Strategic land use planning for multiuse neighborhood centers and the promotion of transportation-oriented development (Land Use Element).  The enhancement and diversification of multimodal transportation options (Transportation Element).  The encouragement of sustainable building development, retrofitting, infill development, and affordable housing initiatives (Housing and Human Services Element). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 8 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Policies Table 4. Zoning and Sustainable Development Policies Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-4: Promote middle housing and infill development through city policies and zoning codes to encourage broader housing types in low and medium density residential zones.  Supports housing supply and diversity. 2 Policy C-5: Plan and implement changes to support mixed-use, high-density development along planned high-capacity transit lines and frequent transit routes. Prioritize housing that supports equitable access to transit and amenities.  Complies with VMT reduction requirement.  Supports housing supply and diversity; reduces emissions; promotes equity and justice. 3 Policy C-6: Encourage sustainable, low-impact, energy-efficient development and promote green building guidelines outlined in certification programs such as Built Green, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Living Building Challenge, Salmon Safe, or others.  Reduces emissions; provides cost savings; promotes economic development. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 9 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 4 Policy C-7: Comply with new state building energy codes and develop an all- electric code for new buildings. Promote and implement building and energy standards, which may include:  Use of on-site renewable energy systems or procurement of renewable energy from offsite sources for all or a portion of the building’s annual building energy use.  Participation in demand response technologies and programs that make energy generation and distribution systems more affordable and more efficient, increase grid reliability, and reduce GHG emissions.  Coordination with local and regional electricity providers to ensure the siting and location of transmission and distribution facilities minimizes adverse impacts on the environment and adjacent land uses.  Requiring new residential and commercial buildings to be solar ready, EV charging ready, and to restrict natural gas use.  Supporting equitable access to energy incentives by providing resources and funding for retrofits to improve energy efficiency or to switch from natural gas to electricity.  Reduces emissions. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 10 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 5 Policy C-8: Encourage weatherization, upgrade, and repair assistance programs to make energy-efficient improvements to all housing types and seek additional funding for energy efficient retrofits at the state and federal level, which may include:  Identifying cost-effective upgrades for weatherization programs such as replacing single-pane windows, replacing or increasing interior wall insulation and roof insulation, retrofitting with electric heat pumps, and optimizing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.  Providing energy and water conservation materials, appliance trade- in/exchanges, home and business conservation kits, and rooftop solar projects.  Using lower-carbon building materials in new construction and retrofits to reduce embodied carbon.  Prioritizing incentive and assistance programs for cost burdened communities and ensuring outreach is targeted towards and benefits vulnerable populations.  Reduces emissions; provides cost savings; enhances resilience. 6 Policy C-9: Provide comprehensive community education on sustainable energy practices, especially for multiunit, low-income housing. Partner with organizations that serve vulnerable communities to ensure education and incentive programs equitably build capacity and reduce cost burden for all residents.  Promotes equity and justice; builds community knowledge. 7 Policy C-10: Partner with state and regional actors to decarbonize buildings through demand response, storage technology, and grid flexibility. Continue to participate in regional partnerships, such as the King County Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) to identify and select appropriate and cost-effective energy improvements.  Supports the shift to decarbonize housing by ensuring the grid has increased capacity and is more reliable.  Enhances resilience. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 11 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Transportation Establishing a well-connected, safe, and low-carbon multi-modal transit system can greatly reduce transportation emissions in the city. Key strategies to help reduce GHG emissions and mitigate climate change include reducing VMT and the electrification of passenger vehicles. Transit-oriented development enhances mobility and provides alternatives like walking and biking. Additional measures to reduce vehicle miles travelled include teleworking, ridesharing, and carpooling. Urban traffic congestion causes concentrated vehicle-related pollution, and can be alleviated with policies like parking restrictions, tolls, improved freight efficiency, and congestion pricing. Shifting from passenger vehicles in urban areas reduces pollution and emissions and can increase the mobility of frontline communities.2 While investing in multi- modal systems, ensuring affordability in services and housing is crucial for equitable access and protecting communities with low income from displacement. Goals Table 5. Transportation Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-E: Reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector by reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) via expanding multimodal transportation systems for all community members and promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs).  Complies with GHG emission reduction and VMT reduction requirements; EV Plan alignment.  Reduces emissions; improves air quality. Policies 2 Frontline communities are those that will be disproportionately impacted by climate change; these are the populations that face historic and current inequities, often experience the earliest and most acute impacts of climate change and have limited resources and/or capacity to adapt. Supporting Elements The Renton Comprehensive Plan includes a set of policies aimed at:  Transportation demand management, enhancement and expansion of multimodal transit options within the city, increased safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists, and educational resources regarding the commute trip reduction (CTR) program (Transportation Element).  Locating development in proximity to frequent transit areas (Land Use Element and Housing and Human Services Element). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 12 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Table 6. Transportation Policies Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-11: Improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the transportation system and increase multimodal transit options within Renton in alignment with the Transportation Element. Ensure transportation system improvements distribute benefits and access equitably and that services are affordable to residents with low incomes through programs that reduce household transportation costs, such as the subsidized annual transportation pass, Reduced Regional Fare Permit, and ORCA LIFT program.  In alignment with Transportation Element; Complies with VMT reduction requirement.  Reduces emissions; promotes equity and justice; improves air quality. 2 Policy C-12: Work with utility providers, communities, and other stakeholders (e.g., developers and EV companies) to ensure that there is access to EV charging where it is needed and expand EV charging readiness for buildings equitably. Site locations for community chargers in Renton based on proximity to areas with attached housing, high Environmental Health Disparity3 (EHD) scores, and points of interest in commercial and employment areas such as City buildings, parks, schools, and open spaces.  Complies with GHG emission reduction requirement; EV Plan alignment.  Reduces emissions. 3 Policy C-13: Implement the Renton EV Implementation Plan and associated timeline for transitioning the City fleet to electric power.  Complies with GHG emission reduction requirement; EV Plan alignment.  Reduces emissions. 4 Policy C-14: Facilitate widespread education around multimodal transportation and EVs in Renton, actively involving community members living, working, or otherwise in close proximity to proposed transit and EV infrastructure changes.  EV Plan alignment.  Builds community knowledge. 3 Differences in health outcomes due both to exposure to environmental hazards and to social factors, such as age, race, and income, which predict community vulnerability to health risks (City of Renton Electric Vehicle Implementation Plan). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 13 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 5 Policy C-15: Engage in regional partnerships to enhance the overall transit network. Opportunities to engage in regional partnerships include:  Supporting state and regional requirements for electric delivery vehicles and Transportation Network Corporations (TNCs).  Encouraging regional advocacy for the transition to environmentally friendly fuels for air travel.  Collaborating with the Regional Transportation Electrification Workgroup to accelerate equitable distribution of benefits of electric vehicles.  Complies with GHG emission reduction and VMT reduction requirements.  Reduces emissions. Waste Prevention and Management Solid waste emissions within Renton result from GHGs that are released from landfills and the transportation of waste to landfill and compost facilities. Diverting solid waste from landfills is the most effective way to reduce the release of these pollutants. Key strategies include sustainable consumption, zero waste systems, increasing recycling and composting, and expanding waste education and outreach. The City is also committed to promoting a circular economy that keeps materials in a regenerative loop. Goals Table 7. Waste Prevention and Management Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-F: Mitigate GHG emissions from waste systems by minimizing waste generation through recycling and food waste reduction measures, ensuring sufficient waste hauler services, and promoting a circular economy.  Complies with GHG emission reduction requirement; alignment with CES 2.0.  Reduces emissions; promotes economic development. Policies Supporting Elements The Renton Comprehensive Plan includes a set of policies aimed at:  Mitigating GHG emissions stemming from waste generation (Utilities Element).  This includes reducing the environmental impact of city operations, promoting recycling and waste reduction in both residential and commercial sectors, and ensuring sufficient waste hauler services. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 14 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Table 8. Waste Prevention and Management Policies Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-16: Expand recycling and organics collection for commercial, multiunit, and single-family residential buildings as part of City-provided utilities. Implement organics separation requirements for businesses in accordance with the 2022 Organics Management Law and the City’s Sustainable Materials Management Plan. Consider implementing an organics disposal ban and/or landfill disposal bans for certain materials.  Reduces emissions; builds community knowledge. 2 Policy C-17: Ensure waste management enforcement does not increase existing financial disparities for cost-burdened households and explore developing incentive programs to purchase interior waste containers and conduct educational outreach on recycling and composting for households with low incomes.  Promotes equity and justice. 3 Policy C-18: Expand current education and outreach programs that provide technical assistance and incentives for commercial businesses and attached residential properties. Develop targeted educational campaigns for composting and recycling material with highest GHG reduction impact (paper, metal, food waste) through business recycling education, recycling awareness campaigns, and community training.  Builds community knowledge. 4 Policy C-19: Develop, implement, and enforce construction and demolition (C&D) recycling and deconstruction ordinances, and encourage developers and project managers to use recycled materials in the construction of transportation facilities and other infrastructure.  Reduces emissions. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 15 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 5 Policy C-20: Promote a circular economy4 in Renton by planning for extended producer responsibility (EPR), reuse, and circularity programs and policies to minimize waste and encourage sustainable resource use. Expand waste data tracking and reporting and continue to implement the Sustainable Materials Management Plan to reach zero waste.  Reduces emissions. 6 Policy C-21: Implement environmentally friendly purchasing policies to procure products and services that align with sustainability and reduced GHG emissions.  Reduces emissions; promotes economic development. 7 Policy C-22: Encourage local food production, processing, and distribution to reduce the carbon footprint associated with food supply chains and prevent food waste. Support urban agriculture, home and community gardens, farmers’ markets, community kitchens, and other collaborative initiatives to provide healthy foods and promote food security.  Reduces emissions; promotes economic development; improves public health and well-being. Carbon Sequestration in Natural Systems Carbon sequestration involves capturing and storing carbon in natural sinks (e.g., wetlands, forests, and parks), a vital aspect of climate mitigation alongside direct emissions reduction. Actively preserving and improving local tree canopy, forests, and green spaces is a method for carbon sequestration and minimizes carbon release from tree and plant decay. Natural climate solutions also have additional co-benefits for communities such as increasing biodiversity, bolstering resilience to extreme heat, and improving air, soil, and water quality. 4 A circular economy reduces the use of materials, designs materials, products, and services to be less resource intensive, and reuses discarded materials or waste to create new materials and products. Supporting Elements The Renton Comprehensive Plan includes a set of policies aimed at:  Protecting and conserving natural resources (Parks, Recreation, Natural Areas, And Trails Element).  Reducing the environmental footprint resulting from city operations and construction, which aligns with a broader commitment to the environmental initiatives outlined in the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement (Land Use Element). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 16 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Goals Table 9. Carbon Sequestration in Natural Systems Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-G: Protect and restore the natural environment to increase carbon sequestration and foster the creation of new parks and greenspace for all community members.  Sequesters carbon; improves public health and well-being. Policies Table 10. Carbon Sequestration in Natural Systems Policies Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-23: Identify and protect environmentally sensitive ecosystems, open space, trees, and vegetation that serve as potential carbon sinks. Avoid the conversion of carbon-rich ecosystems and prioritize increasing tree canopy cover and open space in communities most vulnerable to climate impacts.  Sequesters carbon; enhances resilience; improves public health and well- being. 2 Policy C-24: Promote urban forestry and the creation of new parks to enhance green spaces within the city, maximize carbon storage, and improve public health and wellbeing. Consider tree preservation ordinances, tree planting programs, and programs that increase education and awareness, especially for vulnerable communities. Implement GHG reduction activities related to forestry as outlined in the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP).  Alignment with UFMP and Parks, Recreation, and Natural Areas Plan (PRNA) plan.  Sequesters carbon; improves public health and well-being; builds community knowledge. Resilience Discussion The Climate and Resilience Element seeks to address the unique climate vulnerabilities of Renton’s communities, resources, and infrastructure. As detailed in the CES 2.0, climate impacts are already occurring and are projected to intensify in the coming years. These impacts include:  Continued wildfire smoke episodes, which severely degrade local air quality. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 17 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024  Variable precipitation patterns, leading to increased flooding, landslides, and drought.  Increased temperatures, which will reduce snowpack, impacting water supplies and streams, in addition to stressing critical infrastructure, the energy grid, and ecosystems. Climate impacts such as extreme heat or shifting precipitation patterns have the potential to greatly affect existing housing, transportation, and energy infrastructure, especially in areas already vulnerable to risks such as flooding or landslides. In addition, climate change amplifies existing risks and disparities like chronic health conditions, social and economic inequalities, and pollution exposure, which disproportionately impacts frontline community groups. Understanding which areas and populations are most at risk from climate and environmental burdens can inform policy focus areas and community priorities. Climate change exacerbates existing inequitable health and well-being outcomes for communities, necessitating policies that reduce cumulative environmental and health risks within Renton. Resilience in the Built Environment Climate hazards like extreme heat, drought, flooding, and wildfires affect critical infrastructure, requiring the implementation and enforcement of strategic development regulations and climate-resilient infrastructure. Renton aims to ensure that buildings, transportation systems, energy infrastructure, and critical facilities can withstand and recover quickly from the impacts of extreme weather and other natural hazards worsened by climate change. Policies regulating development and infrastructure should prioritize resilience and adaptive capacity to meet community needs in the face of climate impacts. Additionally, promoting green, affordable housing and a resilient built environment not only supports frontline communities but also yields cost savings and reduces emissions. Goals Table 11. Resilience in the Built Environment Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-H: Implement strategic and equitable land use planning that emphasizes the prevention of community displacement caused or exacerbated by climate change impacts.  Enhances resilience; promotes equity and justice. Supporting Elements The Renton Comprehensive Plan includes a set of policies aimed at:  Increasing flood protection, erosion control, and commitments to enhance stormwater management (Land Use Element).  Ensuring water conservation, responsible management of water resources, and adequate supply (Utilities Element).  Incorporating environmental justice into new zoning designations or rezoning processes (Land Use Element). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 18 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 2 Goal C-I: Prepare for climate impacts expected to pose the biggest threat to Renton’s communities and infrastructure - including wildfire smoke, flooding and landslides, drought, and extreme heat. Seek to minimize the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. Note: Infrastructure includes transportation networks, public institutions, utilities, etc.  Enhances resilience; promotes equity and justice; improves public health and well-being. Policies Table 12. Resilience in the Built Environment Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-25: Develop a climate resilient smart growth strategy to be incorporated into land use planning, such as restricting development in floodplains and establishing appropriate building standards to reduce risk from wildfires or other climate hazards.  Enhances resilience. 2 Policy C-26: Review required buffers and setbacks for areas vulnerable to erosion, flooding, or other damages due to climate change and establish new minimums, if necessary.  Enhances resilience. 3 Policy C-27: Reduce the exposure of property and people to current and future climate risks by promoting clustering or acquiring properties or easements on properties that are vulnerable to climate hazards and developing a transfer of development rights5 program. This would shift development from areas that may provide climate resilience benefits to areas more suitable for development. 4 Policy C-28: Identify and plan for climate impacts to essential and valued community assets such as schools, libraries, parks, and other social service, cultural, and community centers.  Promotes equity and justice; improves public health and well-being. 5 A voluntary, incentive-based, and market-driven approach to preserve land and steer development growth away from rural and resource lands (King County Transfer of Development Rights Program). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 19 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 5 Policy C-29: Maintain government-to-government partnerships with tribes for the preservation and restoration of culturally important resources and sites that could be adversely impacted by climate change.  Protects tribal treaty rights; enhances resilience. 6 Policy C-30: Ensure that buildings, facilities, utilities, and critical infrastructure are built to withstand climate impacts, recover from extreme weather events, and reduce environmental impacts. Specific measures to enhance resilience in building energy codes include:  Adopting building codes that promote passive survivability6 to ensure that buildings maintain safe conditions in the event of power outages or other emergencies.  Upgrading building envelopes and incorporating passive solar design, shading, natural ventilation, and daylighting.  Incorporating features such as backup power generation and emergency water supply systems for use during climate emergencies.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and well-being. 7 Policy C-31: Support energy infrastructure, including generation and transmission, which can withstand and recover quickly from the impacts of extreme weather and other natural hazards.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and well-being. 8 Policy C-32: Restore and maintain habitats and open spaces, including critical areas, to maximize the climate resilience benefits they provide and reduce the risk of wildfire, extreme heat, flooding, and other climate-exacerbated hazards. Identify opportunities to expand habitat protection and connectivity to encourage climate resilience using conservation buffers, open space corridors, and daylighting streams  Enhances resilience; improves public health and well-being. 9 Policy C-33: Ensure the transportation system (infrastructure, routes, travel modes) can withstand and recover from extreme weather events and site routes to reduce exposure to potential climate impacts.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and well-being. 6 The ability of a building to maintain livable conditions for its occupants if services such as power, heating, or water are lost during an emergency. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 20 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 10 Policy C-34: Implement the Stormwater Management Program Plan to provide water management systems to minimize impacts of land use development and storm water runoff on ecosystems, critical habitats, water supply, public health, and safety. Ensure water system plans include robust conservation and re-use measures by expanding municipal reclaimed water systems and promoting the use of on-site non-potable water systems in private-sector commercial and residential buildings to reduce water demand.  Enhances resilience; improves salmon recovery; improves public health and well-being. Resilient Communities & Emergency Preparedness Climate hazards, such as increased air pollution and flood and landslide risks, pose a significant threat to public health and safety. Implementing policies that enhance the community's capacity to cope and adapt, such as engaging the public in emergency planning, establishing resilience hubs, and leading communication initiatives, can foster resilience and facilitate a more effective response and recovery from these impacts. This may include developing a comprehensive wildfire smoke resilience strategy, drought resilience strategy, and urban heat resilience strategy. Anchoring climate preparedness in climate and health equity, particularly for frontline communities, is essential to address disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable members of the Renton community. Goals Table 13. Resilient Communities & Emergency Preparedness Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-J: Protect the Renton community from the impacts of climate change, including wildfire smoke, flooding, drought, and extreme heat events through adaptation policy and climate hazard preparedness planning.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and wellbeing. Supporting Elements The Renton Comprehensive Plan includes a set of policies aimed at:  Safeguarding the health and safety of the community and promoting educational programs that promote sustainability, health, and emergency preparedness (Land Use Element, Utilities Element).  Ensuring safe air quality, including those focused on enhancing air quality through collaborative efforts with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and PSRC (Land Use Element).  Active participation in flood hazard reduction programs and the development of flood hazard mitigation plans (Utilities Element).  Attracting low-carbon and clean-energy sectors and promoting green job development (Economic Development Element). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 21 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 2 Goal C-K: Build partnerships with community organizations and implement culturally contextualized outreach initiatives to educate and empower frontline communities to implement climate resilience actions.  Enhances resilience; promotes equity and justice. Policies Table 14. Resilient Communities & Emergency Preparedness Policies Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-35: Prioritize resiliency investments and initiatives that reduce environmental burdens and equitably distribute benefits for vulnerable communities.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and wellbeing. 2 Policy C-36: Incorporate resilience hubs into existing community-serving facilities augmented to support residents, coordinate communication, distribute resources, and reduce carbon pollution while enhancing quality of life. Ensure that a diversity of individuals, groups, and agencies in climate engagement activities are involved in the decision-making process.  Enhances resilience; promotes equity and justice. 3 Policy C-37: Inform the public on how to stay safe during extreme weather events, especially in more vulnerable and unsheltered communities. Conduct outreach on the impacts of climate change on health and safety and communicate evacuation routes in case of emergency or natural disaster. Provide outreach and materials in languages representative of community needs.  Improves public health and well-being; builds community knowledge. 4 Policy C-38: Use climate and health assessment tools such as urban heat island mapping or updated floodplain mapping modeling changes in extreme precipitation to address potential impacts of climate change on health and equity (I.e. Mapping from King County Flood Control District). Address the social and mental health needs of communities displaced or impacted by climate disaster.  Enhances resilience; promotes equity and justice; improves public health and wellbeing. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 22 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 5 Policy-39: Expand local food-security and food-related economy to ensure that Renton communities have access to healthy, affordable, and climate-friendly foods.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and wellbeing. 6 Policy C-40: Support a resilient and green local economy and promote green workforce opportunities. Develop a green jobs strategy and promote job training for those facing economic vulnerability or with limited skills and work experience in this sector.  Promotes economic development; promotes equity and justice. 7 Policy C-41: Develop a comprehensive wildfire smoke resilience strategy through collaborative partnerships with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, local residents, emergency management officials, and other relevant stakeholders. The strategy may include:  Implementing a community-wide notification system designed to minimize exposure to wildfire smoke and particulate matter, thus reducing health risks.  Partnering with other agencies in the provision of personal protective equipment and air filter fans, or offering incentives for infrastructure updates, such as HVAC enhancements and the use of MERV 13 filters for air intake in facilities serving high-risk populations.  Holding events and conducting outreach in the community to communicate air quality benefits and methods that contribute to improved indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events, especially in commercial, attached residential buildings, and schools.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and well-being; improves air quality. 8 Policy C-42: Develop a drought resilience strategy, taking into consideration projected climate effects and specific actions for different drought phases. Include water conservation measures through incentives, information, and requirements that residents and business adopt water-efficiency practices and technologies. Implement the Stormwater Management Program Plan and aim to meet both average and peak daily water demand and the monitoring of water supply sources to comply with state-issued water rights certificates and permits.  Alignment with Renton Stormwater Management Program.  Enhances resilience. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 23 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 9 Policy C-43: Develop an urban heat resilience strategy that builds off measures in the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan and includes:  Land use policies that reduce heat trapping surfaces, such as large parking lots and sprawling development.  Urban design and greening policies that promote the orientation of buildings and streets for shade, cool pavements, walls, and roofs, and green stormwater infrastructure.  Measures to reduce waste heat7 by promoting energy efficiency through weatherization, building with heat-resistant materials, and reducing VMT.  Strategies to work with businesses, state, and county departments on guidelines for safe work in outdoor environments during periods of heat and poor air quality to keep workers safe. Align with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Outdoor Heat Exposure Rules and King County’s Extreme Heat Response Plan.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and well-being; improves air quality; builds community knowledge. 7 Heat produced by a machine, such as through vehicle use or industrial processes. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 24 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Resilient Ecosystems Climate hazards such as flooding and wildfires have negative impacts on ecosystems and natural areas, including forests, streams, lakes, wetlands, urban parks, open spaces, and tree canopy. Preserving and improving environmentally critical areas offer multiple benefits, such as creating green spaces that alleviate heat and flooding effects, capturing carbon, and safeguarding culturally significant resources. Goals Table 15. Resilient Ecosystems Goals Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Goal C-L: Manage and enhance Renton’s natural systems so that they are resilient to the impacts of extreme weather, invasive species, disease, and other impacts worsened by climate change. Pursue the expansion of natural areas and critical ecosystems when possible.  Enhances resilience; improves public health and wellbeing. Supporting Elements The Renton Comprehensive Plan includes a set of policies aimed at:  The effective management of urban forests to optimize air quality (Land Use Element).  Enhancing the quality and functions of the City's sensitive waterways and ensuring the long-term protection of groundwater resources (Utilities Element).  Protecting, conserving, and enhancing natural resources and areas in Renton (Parks, Recreation, Natural Areas, and Trails Element). Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 25 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Policies Table 16. Resilient Ecosystems Policies Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 1 Policy C-44: Protect and restore streams, riparian zones, estuaries, wetlands, and floodplains to achieve healthy watersheds that are resilient to climate change.  Ensure no net loss of ecosystem structure and functions and strive for net ecological gain to enhance climate resilience, especially in critical areas.  Identify and quantify the ecosystem services benefits of natural systems and include these natural capital assets in cost-benefit assessments for community and development planning.  Enhances resilience; improves salmon recovery; sequesters carbon; provides ecosystem services. 2 Policy C-45: Protect wildlife corridors to minimize habitat fragmentation, especially along existing linkages and in patches of native habitat.  Enhances resilience. 3 Policy C-46: Promote robust urban forest and climate-smart forest management through policies and practices that reduce forest vulnerability to known diseases or pest infestations, and future threats, including the anticipated effects of climate change, consistent with the Urban Forest Management Plan. This includes increasing tree canopy to reduce heat islands and improve air quality and prioritizing improvements in frontline communities.  Enhances resilience; sequesters carbon; improves public health and well- being; improves air quality. 4 Policy C-47: Restore floodplains and foster connectivity to enhance the resilience of streams and rivers, thereby mitigating flood risk. When possible, restore existing flood storage, conveyance, and ecological functions and values of floodplains, wetlands, and riparian corridors, consistent with the Stormwater Management Program Plan.  Enhances resilience. 5 Policy C-48: Preserve and enhance the quality and functions of the City's sensitive waterways and ensure the long-term protection of groundwater resources to secure a safe and ample potable water supply for Renton, in accordance with the Utilities Element.  Enhances resilience; improves salmon recovery; provides ecosystem services. Element Review ▪ Climate & Resilience ▪ Resilience COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 2024 26 Draft: Planning Commission 1st Presentation - April 17,2024  Draft Revised: March 27, 2024 Row # Proposed Language Purpose or Rationale 6 Policy C-49: Utilize educational campaigns to encourage native, drought- resistant vegetation and landscaping for residential areas in Renton. Incentivize smart irrigation management and technology use.  Enhances resilience; builds community knowledge.