This entry was posted on Thursday, April 12th, 2007 at 5:01 pm and is filed under Mason County Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Thank you for your letter on HB 1727 “Planning to ensure sufficient
land and densities available to accommodate growth.” For many moderate
income families, the dream of a home is not possible. The high cost of homes has increased the cost of living. Washington needs neighborhoods where people can afford to live. The lack of affordable housing affects everybody. The bill helps address the housing crisis. The cities appreciate the section allowing cities and counties to sift and sort their population projection. Cities also are in support of an amendment to section 4 to focus in on areas with a “donut hole,” or areas completely surrounded by one city. In order to make growth management work, it’s important that cities and counties consult with each other.
Cities face difficulties in trying to annex unincorporated islands, including huge financial difficulties. The bill addresses a real world issue. Maple Valley has a donut hole right in the middle of the city.
There are no residents in the island, and any development is likely to add large numbers of residents to the city, and the city isn’t involved in the planning. The bill provides that one government cannot make unilateral development plans that would affect another jurisdiction.
Thanks again for your letter, please feel free to write anytime.
Tim