This extensive guidance document was developed as a result of a vulnerability assessment and local comprehensive plan update process undertaken by the City of Bainbridge Island, which worked with the climate consulting firm EcoAdapt. This document was then developed to guide all Puget Sound communities as they consider both climate change and revising local land use planning. This guide works on the premise that a community update of a local comprehensive plan is a very appropriate mechanism with which to dovetail climate adaptation planning. As individuals, as a community and as a society, we need to plan for climate change, just as we plan for future growth, social needs, and economic trends. Since planning for climate change – adaptation and mitigation – corresponds to the common steps in a typical planning process, communities can include future climate scenarios and expected impacts along with more traditional baseline data when carrying out comprehensive plan revisions.
Read the full report here.