Growth Management Act
* April 2006 *
from the April 2006 Newsletter - Article by Gayle Broadbent
What is the Growth Management Act?
How does it impact me, as a resident of Cooper Point?
The Growth Management Act (GMA) was passed into
law in 1990 to manage the growth of cities, towns and rural communities in
such a way that population and economic growth would be balanced. This
balance includes the preservation of public resources such as clean water,
clean beaches, open lands, a viable transportation system, good schools, and
sufficient public services – all imperative to high quality of life.
Thurston County has seen a huge influx in
population recently, and with this growth come problems of balanced, proper
land use and community building. Last July our Growth Management Board ruled
that. According to regulations of the GMA, Thurston County was not managing
growth properly and as such was required to address four areas: Rural
Rezoning, Urban Growth Areas, Agricultural Lands, and Limited Areas of More
Intensive Rural Development.
The county continues to work to come into
compliance with these directives, and seeks public input on the process. As
a community, Cooper Point has much at stake in this discussion. The most
important issue for the Point is the size of the Urban Growth Area, where
development is supposed to be concentrated. Traffic and schools are also
major issues. Questions arise as to whether the current road system – even
with improvements – is adequate to address increased loads. School class
sizes are rising rapidly and children must have safe access when traveling
to and from school sites.
Water quality issues are becoming more of a
concern, with some new subdivisions being built on top of aquifers. This
raises questions of potential pollution to drinking water, as well as future
water availability. The Cooper Point peninsula (as well as Olympia and
surrounding cities) depends almost entirely on ground water for its drinking
supply. This is a very important issue that must be actively addressed.
The Cooper Point Association continues to hold
these issues and bring our concerns to local policy makers. We welcome your
input via our web page, at our monthly meetings, and as members of the
Cooper Point Association. We will work together to manage growth while we
continue to preserve and enhance essential quality of life.
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