Brief Description: Changing provisions relating to limited development of rural areas.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Sheldon and Rockefeller).

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections
House Committee on Local Government

Background: In general, the state's Growth Management Act (GMA) prohibits extension into rural areas of urban governmental services at an intensity that is historically and typically found in cities, except when necessary to protect public health and the environment. The GMA, however, also provides for limited areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRDs), including necessary public facilities to serve them. Small-scale recreational or tourist use is one type of LAMIRD allowed by the GMA. Public facilities and services must be limited to those necessary to serve the recreation or tourist use and must be provided in a manner that does not permit low-density sprawl.

Summary: Connection to an existing sewer line where the connection serves only the recreational or tourist use and is not available to adjacent parcels is added as an example of public services and public facilities that are limited to those necessary to serve a small-scale recreational or tourist LAMIRD and are provided in a manner that does not permit low-density sprawl. This provision applies until August 31, 2005.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   3
House      96   0   (House amended)
Senate      41   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: May 13, 2005