BILL REQ. #:  H-1181.1 

Read first time 01/25/2007.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring the state parks and recreation commission to fully plan for potential future impacts at Saint Edward state park; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds Bastyr University, a nonprofit, private university, is located adjacent to Saint Edward state park. The legislature also recognizes the fact that Bastyr University has recently adopted a twenty-five-year campus master plan that outlines significant growth for the university over the next few decades. Growth of both the university's enrollment and physical size will have an impact on the neighboring Saint Edward state park. The legislature finds that the state parks and recreation commission should work with Bastyr University and complete necessary planning to address the potential future impact on Saint Edward state park that may arise from the planned expansion of Bastyr University.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The state parks and recreation commission shall initiate and complete an in-depth review and full planning process to address the immediate and long-term potential future impacts to Saint Edward state park arising from the planned expansion of Bastyr University. The planning process must, at a minimum, consider the impacts on:
     (a) Traffic in and around the park, including all access roads;
     (b) Emergency vehicle access;
     (c) Parking in the park;
     (d) The adequacy of the park's utilities;
     (e) The impacts of increased use of the facilities, including the swimming pool, the gymnasium, the sports field, the great lawn, and hiking and biking trails; and
     (f) The impacts of increased use on the flora and fauna of the park.
     (2) The review conducted under this section must also consider the utility of and barriers to a cost-sharing agreement between the state parks and recreation commission and Bastyr University to financially aid the park in the execution of the plan developed under this section.
     (3) The documents required by this section must be completed and reported to the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2008. Prior to the final adoption of the required documents, the state parks and recreation commission shall conduct at least one public hearing on the draft documents in a community near Saint Edward state park.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act expires July 31, 2008.