Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 11, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Leads Conference to Protect Military Installations From Encroachment

Gov. Gary Locke today co-hosted a conference to discuss how to protect military installations from development that interferes with the base missions and operations.

The conference was co-sponsored by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA). NGA, with the support of the Department of Defense, is sponsoring a series of workshops throughout the United States to address the issue of incompatible development in the vicinity of military installations. The meeting will examine how development affects mission-readiness and the future of the installations.

Joining Locke at the conference were local government officials, members of the Legislature and representatives of NGA and the Department of Defense. Juli Wilkerson, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), and Chris Rose, executive policy advisor to the governor, co-chaired the meeting.

“Our military bases are a very significant and vital presence in our state,” Locke said. “Protecting this presence from encroachment through good land use planning and growth management is an important priority for our state.”

The goal of the forum was to share information about best practices in land use planning in the vicinity of military installations, identify the current challenges facing the communities and bases in Washington, and to provide input to CTED and the state Military Department regarding an action plan for the future.

Today’s conference will also form the foundation for implementing Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6401. Locke signed this bill in March, which enacted an amendment to the Growth Management Act to protect military installations from incompatible development.

The bill creates a method and timetable for jurisdictions to work with base commanders to identify areas of concern. These concerns can then be addressed in the update of local comprehensive plans and development regulations.

“Washington’s bases are essential to the state’s economic health,” Locke said. “In 2003, the major military bases in Washington directly and indirectly supported over 200,000 jobs. The total impact on our state from military base purchases and payroll was $7.3 billion last year.”

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