FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 30, 1996
Lowry uses veto pen to save growth management
process
OLYMPIA - Gov. Mike Lowry tonight
vetoed two sections (3 and 5) of a controversial bill that would
have weakened the state's Growth Management Act.
Senate Bill 6637 will expedite the court review of Growth Hearings
Board actions in certain cases, but also sought to allow the continuation
of local ordinances in cases where the boards' decisions are being
appealed. The local regulations would become the default rule
even if they have been found to substantially interfere with fulfilling
the goals of the act.
"While well intentioned, this section simply provides an
incentive for local governments to continue to remain out of compliance
with legitimate board orders," Lowry said. "I applaud
the legislature's attempt to find a compromise in the polar viewpoints
about the boards' authority, but these sections are not the answers."
Lowry also vetoed a section of the bill that would have directed
the boards not to prioritize, balance or rank the goals of the
act. This provision could have prevented the boards from ensuring
that the goals have their intended effect. Such a limitation
would have reduced the boards to a purely procedural role, making
the Growth Hearings Boards irrelevant.
To work on these issues, Lowry has asked the Land Use Study Commission
to make recommendations to the 1997 legislature and to the governor
proposing how to clarify and simplify the existing provisions
of the law. Such recommendations should propose how to establish
greater certainty in local growth planning and should also encourage
local planning and actions to comply with the requirements and
goals of the act.
For more information, contact the Governor's Communications Office
at 360-753-6790.