A short history of the GMA
Published 3:49 pm Thursday, April 30, 2009
By Dennis Box, The Courier Herald
It was a sign of the times, growth in Washington was exploding, particularly in Pierce and King counties. The inflation of the late 1970s and the recession of early '80s had given way to explosive growth in the latter part of the 1980s.
Part of the growth in the Evergreen State came from an economically ravaged California. Sleepy Washington, with lower property values, attracted many people from the Golden State and across the country. The rapid expansion and the perceived loss of a Washington's pristine environment sent shock waves throughout the state's political structure.
The character of Washington's rural and urban areas was changing rapidly. Farmland that had been in families for generations was being sold to developers, and there was an outcry that growth was unmanaged and out of control.
The seeds of the Growth Management Act were planted in the early 1970s when two environmental measures were passed - the State Environmental Policy Act and the Shoreline Management Act. Both acts were designed to manage growth and protect critical habitats. But what worked in the '70s wasn't up to muster 15 years later.
During the mid-'80s, attempts were made to bring growth management legislation to the floor, but each time failed.
Finally, in 1990, Speaker of the House, Joe King, (D-Vancouver), felt it was time to act. He informally gathered together a committee of House committee chairs known as the Steel Magnolias to usher through the GMA legislation. The members were: Jennifer Belcher, Mary Margaret Hagen, Busse Nutley, Ruth Fischer, Nancy Rust, and the leader of the group was Maria Cantwell, now a U.S. senator.
Influence and cajoling came from many individuals and groups including the Steel Magnolias, Gov. Booth Gardner and the environmental community. After many attempts, in 1991, the first GMA legislation was passed with the lofty goals of controlling sprawl, encouraging economic development and protecting natural resources. It has been amended in the legislature every year since its passage.
The vision of the GMA is for a high density urban landscape, well designed, surrounded by a rural landscape with environmentally protected areas.
Cities and counties must develop and adopt a comprehensive growth plan that fits the parameters of the GMA.
It is the only legislation with no direct oversight of compliance from the state government. If a plan is believed to be violating the tenets of the GMA, citizens, interests groups or state agencies appeal the plan to one of the three regional Growth Management Hearing Boards.
Violators of the rulings from the hearing boards face financial sanctions from the state.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.
