CPAT Needs Good Volunteers!

What is CPAT?

The Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) is a committee and program of APA Washington to provide community planning assistance to communities that lack planning resources.

What type of planning help?

Comprehensive plan housing element and housing-related development regulations for select Washington communities that without planning staff that are struggling to meet State requirements. Key components include adequate provisions (RCW 36.70A.070(2)(d)), racially disparate impacts analysis (RCW 36.70A.070(2)(f)), and land capacity analysis (RCW 36.70A.070(2)(c)) requirements.

What type of activities?

While the format could vary, activities could include:

• Convening city staff, stakeholders, and elected officials to discuss potential changes to the jurisdiction’s housing strategy (one on-site meeting plus remote work envisioned)

• Drafting and proposing updates to the housing element to comply with state law and implement local vision for housing

• Small-group technical assistance with city staff.

When is help needed?

Next Spring (starting in March). Commerce will identify communities needing such help this Fall, after which we’ll start linking volunteer teams with communities (envision a handful of communities that we can support through the program).

Who (what type of teams) and how much time is needed?

We envision two planners per community – ideally a senior to mid-level planner to provide oversight/leadership and another planner to lead the analysis and production. This equates to 15-25 hours of pro-bono work depending on role and community needs over a few months.

Remote vs on-site work?

Most of the work will be done remotely, but collaborative on-site meetings are a key component of the CPAT experience and are often key to the project’s success. 

If Interested - please contact Bob Bengford, AICP ([email protected]) and/or Patrick Lynch, AICP ([email protected])

https://www.washington-apa.org/community-planning-assistance-teams

Volunteer Information