Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 19, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke signs GMA changes that give local communities more control

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today signed into law significant changes to the state Growth Management Act that make it more flexible and responsive to local governments' land use decisions. Most of the changes were recommended by the Land Use Study Commission, a group appointed by the 1995 Legislature with representatives from business, agriculture, local government and environmental interests.


"Today we improve the process for managing the expected rapid growth in our state's population," said Locke. "These changes are the result of consensus and compromise from a diverse group of volunteers who devoted their energy to making the Growth Management Act even more effective as more people and industries move to our state.


"I said we will not abandon the GMA. Together, we made it better with a more balanced framework to manage growth so our quality of life isn't harmed," continued Locke. "The people and businesses of this state come out the winners."


Most of the amendments to the GMA signed by the governor today were recommendations from the Land Use Study Commission. The most significant changes provide greater deference to local land use decisions; increase opportunity for economic development in some rural areas; improve public participation in the growth management process; and limit and clarify the power of growth management hearings boards.


Several amendments approved by the Legislature and signed by Locke went beyond the commission's recommendations but had the support of the commission and the broad spectrum of interests impacted by the GMA. However, the governor vetoed 13 other amendments because they were inconsistent with recommendations of the commission and not widely supported by those impacted by the GMA.


Other approved changes in the GMA include:


- Public Works Trust Fund loans and Centennial Clean Water Act grants may be awarded for critical public health or environmental problems such as cleaning up failing septic tanks even though the local government may not yet be in full compliance with the GMA.

- Safeguards against property owners fencing adjacent, public or community-owned greenbelt or open space and later claiming the land through adverse possession law.

- New guidelines for property tax exemptions for owners of apartments for low- and moderate-income people.

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