Defending Washington's Growth Management Act

Washington state's 1990 Growth Management Act (GMA) is facing a renewed round of attacks from Republican legislators in the state. A post on The Urbanist says the latest bills designed to weaken the GMA go further than other recent examples.

1 minute read

February 3, 2017, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Steptoe Butte State Park

The view in Steptoe Butte State Park in Eastern Washington. | Pung / Shutterstock

"Washington state Republicans have mounted an all-out assault on the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA)," reports Doug Trumm.

"More than a half-dozen bills have been proposed seeking to either repeal the GMA or severely hamper its effectiveness at protecting natural and rural lands while focusing healthy urban growth patterns in cities and unincorporated urban areas across the state," adds Trumm.

The article provides background on the GMA, for those who aren't familiar with this approach to land use policy. Trumm is obviously a believer in the intent and the effects of the state's GMA, and he specifically addresses seven proposed bills (one is even bi-partisan) that "would do great harm to the state and its residents by encouraging sprawl and by encroaching on wilderness and agricultural lands."

Thursday, February 2, 2017 in The Urbanist

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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