Washblog || What part of GMA don't you understand?

What part of GMA don't you understand?

By Dixie
Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 09:28:11 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Land use/zoning issues

In the last two years the commissioners ( one of which is a brother-in-law of the main annexation petitioner)and manager of the East Wenatchee Water District and their attorney have spent thousands of dollars in manpower, attorney fees and other expenses attempting to annex over 4500 acres of mainly agricultural land for a few special interest groups (land-speculators).

Most existing ratepayers believe that prioritizing their needs by identifying then repairing or replacing older water mains, water tanks and other system infrastructure would have been a better use of the district's time and resources than wasting it on controversial annexations and expensive appeals.

The City of East Wenatchee appealed the Douglas County Boundary Review Boards decision to approve the annexation in February 2007. The city stated that the annexation violated not only the city's comprehensive plan but also GMA. In July Douglas County Superior Court Judge John Hotchkiss ruled in favor of the city citing that the annexation into agricultural land did indeed violate the city comprehensive plan and GMA.

The EWWD and Calvin White the primary petitioner for the annexation were "shocked" and "disappointed" to find that the judge could make such a decision. They felt he just didn't have all of the facts.....

Now the EWWD and White are going to go before the judge to ask that he rescind his decision. EWWD assures the ratepayers that White and the other petitioners will pay for "everything" which is the cost of an appeal. Apparently what they do not understand this is not about money but about state law.

Most likely if the judge does not roll over for the EWWD and White they will do a formal appeal of the decision. How much more of the EWWD ratepayer's time and money will the EWWD spend in order to accommodate a few land speculators? I guess we will have to wait and see.

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What part of GMA don't you understand? | 1 comment (1 topical)

Thanks

Thank you for your posting on this important topic.

I believe and support the GMA.

I finally discovered the Oregon coast a few years ago. It's wonderful. And qualitatively different from our coast and rural areas. Meaning much nicer.

Oregon used to have GMA style protections of their rural areas. I hope their voters smarten up. They should travel Washington's rural areas to see what's in store for them.

(One of my grandfather's former farm in Bellingham is now subdivided for starter castles. You won't find better farm land. Our land in Birch Bay is now all track housing. Another grandparent's farm near Ellensburg is similarly under seige. I'm told by my aunt that the entire Kittitas Valley is being subdivided. For retirement homes. Grrr....)

by zappini on Mon Aug 27, 2007 at 10:12:20 AM PST

* 1 none 0 *

What part of GMA don't you understand? | 1 comment (1 topical)

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