HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 92-4742, by Representatives Forner, Cantwell, Haugen, Betrozoff and Ferguson

     WHEREAS, The Growth Management Act focuses on accommodating growth and protecting the environment through improved planning by and between local governments; and

     WHEREAS, The Growth Management Act seeks to accomplish its intended purpose while also protecting private property rights; and

     WHEREAS, The Growth Management Act requires that all counties and cities designate and protect critical areas by March 1, 1992; and  

     WHEREAS, Critical areas are also regulated by several other state laws, including the State Environmental Policy Act and the Shorelines Management Act; and

     WHEREAS, Private property owners, particularly owners of single, small parcels of land, may face significant costs or hardships if local governments act unreasonably in adopting or enforcing regulations protecting critical areas, or if local governments have separate, uncoordinated processes for regulating critical areas under the Growth Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, the Shorelines Management Act, and other laws; and

     WHEREAS, The state is making efforts to coordinate the several laws protecting the environment, particularly critical areas, such as the Environmental Pilot Projects administered by the Department of Community Development under the Growth Management Act; and

     WHEREAS, Legislation likely will be necessary to integrate the Growth Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, and the Shorelines Management Act; and

     WHEREAS, The House of Representatives, which spearheaded growth management legislation in Washington State, should remain involved in the implementation of this legislation, particularly regarding integrating the Growth Management Act and other environmental laws, to minimize the impact of regulations on private property owners and to ensure predictability and certainty in local processing of development permits;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives strongly encourage counties and cities to balance the goals of protecting the environment and protecting private property rights when designating and protecting critical areas under the Growth Management Act; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That during the upcoming interim, the House of Representatives Trade and Economic Development Committee, the House of Representatives Environmental Affairs Committee, and the House of Representatives Local Government Committee along with other interested House of Representatives or Senate committees, monitor the efforts of the Department of Community Development and the Department of Ecology regarding this issue and meet with these state agencies, representatives of counties and cities, representatives of business and environmentalists, and other interested parties, to develop alternatives to integrate environmental protection laws and improve the local permit process for consideration by the 1993 session of the Legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Governor, the Washington State Senate, the directors of the departments of Community Development and Ecology, the Association of Washington Cities, the Washington State Association of Counties, the Association of Washington Businesses, and the Washington Environmental Council.