Streicher v. Island County, WWGMHB Case No. 08-2-0015, Final Dec. & Order, (Sept. 29, 2008)

Monday, September 29, 2008

Go to Final Dec. & Order

Read more...

Top News Today

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

State on team to cut greenhouse gases
Seattle Times, September 24
The Western Climate Initiative finally unveiled its plan to “cap and trade” carbon emissions among member states and provinces, which account for most of the western United States and most of Canada.
  See also the Seattle P-I article and the proposed WCI plan itself.  At the same time, our state senators worked hard to remove oil exploration subsidies and add in renewable energy credits to our tax code.  Now the House and President must approve.  See the Seattle P-I article and The Olympian article.

Snohomish facility gets first loads of canola seed to make biodiesel
Everett Daily Herald, September 24
While our federal representatives work on biofuel incentives, entrepreneurs have their canola to biodiesel plant ready to go. See also
the Seattle Times article.  And then there’s the people in Pend Orielle County who want to burn the aquatic invasive weed “milfoil” into biofuel.  See the Yakima Herald article.

Eyman plans 'Freedom Drive' to claim HOV lanes
The News Tribune, September 24
Tim Eyman is up to is obnoxious self.
  Already believing without-a-doubt that his Initiative 985 will pass this fall, Eyman is telling the state Department of Transportation to start changing signage and is planning a “Freedom Drive” this December to claim the HOV lanes for single occupancy vehicles. See also the Seattle Times article.  Despite his claims to the contrary, opening the HOB lanes during off-peak hours is not going to reduce congestion.  First, Seattle HOV lanes are used by HOVs almost all day any ways.  Second, opening the lanes will just encourage more single occupancy drivers, increasing congestion.  Frustrated with Eyman? Throw Pie.

City of Sammamish endorses regional affordable housing strategies
Sammamish Review, September 23
Sammamish wants to be the most affordable, progressive city in the state.
  Or so it seems by their flurry of activity lately.  First the City Council endorsed the strategies developed by “A Regional Coalition for Housing,” a group of fourteen East King County cities to address affordable housing.  Then it gave $100,000 to the coalition.  And a deal that shifted development from flanks of Tiger Mountain State Park to Issaquah Highlands will include 80 affordable homes out of the total 550.  See also the Seattle P-I’s editorial on September 23.

Ecology plans cleanup at old mill site near Seafarers’ park
Anacortes American, September 24
The state Department of Ecology is planning to start its cleanup of contaminated shore- and tide-lands in Anacortes next summer as part of its Puget Sound Initiative.
  The project includes remediating the old Scott Paper and Custom Plywood mills, cleaning up the Whitmarsh Landfill, rerouting storm drains, replacing creosote pilings, and marine habitat restoration.  Meanwhile, Tacoma weighs taking on the $3.7 million remediation of the Foss Waterway and the Washington River Protection Solutions began its $7.1 billion cleanup of nuclear and hazardous waste at the tank farms Hanford tank farms.

Scoring mistake: Vancouver loses $12.5 million
The Olympian, September 25
A scoring error by the state Community Economic Revitalization Board for the LIFT grant program was corrected and
Vancouver and Whitman County are both out of luck.  Vancouver was set to receive $500,000 per year for 25 years for rail and road improvements as part of a $1 billion waterfront community development that included restaurants, offices, two hotels, 2,700 condominiums and apartments, and ten acres of park and open space.  Whitman County was set to receive $362,000 per year for 25 years to create a retail center near the Idaho border to create 1,400 new jobs.  Instead, Mount Vernon and Puyallup will be the beneficiaries.  Mount Vernon will use its $500,000 per year to build a waterfront promenade, urban trail, park facilities, parking garage, and other downtown improvements.  See the Skagit Valley Herald article.  The City of Yakima, although it received a good panic, kept their LIFT grant money and can proceed to redevelop the 200 acres of a former Boise Cascade mill site into a mixed-use urban oasis so the city can correctly claim itself to be the “Palm Springs of Washington.”  See the Yakima Herald article.

Olympia extends building moratorium
The Olympian, September 24
The City of
Olympia extended its building moratorium in the Chambers Basin area so it can consider downzoning 275 acres to 4 density units per acre.  Considering even this new density would be near that characteristic of sprawl, one must wonder whether the area should be downzoned further to help prevent potential flooding (and more than even the 2du/ac, as was suggested).  Or maybe the city council should consider leaving the existing zoning but creating a TDR program for the area specific and limiting development to only 10% of the area.  If all else fails, the state can provide grants to flood victims.  The City of Olympia also addressed 6 other zoning proposals at its public hearing.  And the City of Tumwater has a 10-building mixed-use complex coming its way.

Tribal family's land a treasure
Everett Daily Herald, September 22
Another tribal land development is set to occur near Marysville, just north of the existing Quil Ceda Village (home to the Tulalip Casino and Seattle Premium Outlets).
  Katrina Jum and the four other board of directors who manage the land for 35 owners (all Tulalips), is ready to develop 60 acres into a luxury movie theater, big box stores, and a theme park.

Whatcom County OKs ending watershed logging rules lawsuit
Bellingham Herald, September 24
Lake Whatcom appears to nearing protection at least from one side of the lake. If finalized, 8,000 acres currently managed by the state Department of Natural Resources along Lake Whatcom would be purchased by Whatcom County.  Timber harvesting would cease and runoff lessened, helping to protect the 91,000 Bellingham residents that rely on the lake as a drinking source.  However, runoff from homes on the lake would continue to be a substantial source of contamination.  See also this other Bellingham Herald article.

Read more...

Top News Today

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Kitsap County Commissioners back Woods View Development
Kitsap Sun, Sept. 23
On Monday, the Kitsap County Commissioners ignored the spirit of the GMA by continuing to support the Woods View Development, a 78-house development on 17 acres in the county's rural area.  Although the development is near the Manchester LAMIRD, it creates an urban density of 4.5 dwelling units per acre and includes an urban sewer system.  The Beaver Creek Conservation Group promises to appeal.

Lake Stevens plans workshop to discuss cottage housing developments
Everett Daily Herald, Sept. 22
On October 1, the City of Lake Stevens will be hosting a public meeting on whether to allow cottage housing.  This form of development is designed to be more community-oriented by increasing density.

Mistake May Not Impact Mill Project
KAPP, Sept. 23
Last week the state Community Economic Revitalization Board awarded the City of Yakima $25 million to redevelop 200-acres of a former Boise Cascade mill site. Then the Board recanted, apologizing that it had failed to properly conduct its scoring of the projects that received money.  Well, it now seems life can go on and Yakima will receive its money after all.  The redevelopment should be a huge boon to the city, although one has to wonder what industry is going to support the new huge amount of commercial and residential life when the city’s economy has stagnated for the past 20 years.  Let’s hope the wine industry continues to flourish.  Down river, the Port of Kennewick mulls its options for redeveloping the Vista Airfield (Tri-City Herald, Sept 23).

Cle Elum water issue heats up
Daily Record, Sept. 22
Cle Elum is about to adopt an ordinance to permit developers who annex to the city with more than two acres to purchase the city's excess water rights.  Under current ordinance, such a developers must bring in sufficient water rights to serve the property.  While this probably isn't the end of the world, the policy seems favor large developments and sprawl over the individual property owner.  Additionally, the city will be in a worse position in the long-run to provide sufficient water to its citizens, especially as global warming reduces snow pack.
Continuation of hearing on height limits draws dozens
The Olympian, Sept. 22
In an ongoing saga, Olympia debates at what height redevelopment should be allowed in its isthmus.  Great concern has been paid to the views from the Capital Building of Budd Inlet.  Others want a park along the shore.  Others probably just hate development.  But if Thurston County is going to curb its sprawl and create more livable communities, Olympia needs to lead the way by providing residential and commercial capacity downtown.

Olympia sued over parking lot
The Olympian, Sept. 23
The City of Olympia has been sued by the owners of Ken Schoenfeld Furniture for allegedly contaminating their property.  The McHughs (who one the property), allege runoff from a city’s parking lot has contaminated their property making obtaining future mortgages and sales difficult.  The City counterclaims that it is the property of the McHughs that is contaminating the City’s property.  The lawsuit sounds like NIMBY opportunism to me.  The City is in the last stages of selling the parking lot to Colpitts Development Company to build a seven-story, 126-apartment building complex.

Homeless settle into 'Nickelsville'
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sept. 23
On Monday, advocates erected about 150 fuchsia-colored tents on public land in Highland Park of Seattle to draw attention to the needs of homeless people.  Besides giving a black-eye to Mayor Greg Nickels, it is unclear what will be actually accomplished by the demonstration.  The advocates hope to build on the fuchsia tents with wooden shacks; meanwhile, Mayor Nickels is sending staff to do outreach and post a 3-day eviction notice.  To the north in Snohomish County, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is funding apartment complexes to shelter 19 homeless families (Everett Daily Herald, Sept. 22).  King County was awarded its own public housing money last week (Seattle P-I, Sept. 20).


State looks to jump-start frog population

Seattle Times, Sept. 23
Five hundred Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) are being tracked at Fort Lewis with radio transmitters.  The native frogs currently face an 80% mortality rate in the region due to invasive species, including bullfrogs and plants that taking over native habitat.  Ninety percent of the native habitat at Fort Lewis is already invaded.

Red dye to color Burnt Bridge Creek in water-quality effort

The Oregonian, Sept. 22
The Burnt Bridge Creek will soon look a bit, well, burnt.  The state Department of Ecology is dyeing the creek red/orange to measure luminosity so it can understand the creek’s dissolved oxygen problems.  Let’s hope this research helps save fish and habitat, otherwise, the creek’s bridge to the future might well be burnt.

Spent Nuclear Fuel dug up near H Reactor

Tri-City Herald, Sept. 23
Good news: clean-up begins around H-Reactor of 8-inch bits that exceed radiation exposure limits by a multiple of 200,000.  Bad news: recent Hanford clean-up contract contested (Tri-City Herald, Sept. 23), creating uncertainty around the new Tri-Party Agreement on clean-up.

Now it's easier to recycle fluorescent bulbs in the Puget Sound area

Everett Daily Herald, Sept. 23
Bartell Drug is accepting your CFLs at its 56 stores in the region.  CFLs that are not recycled or properly disposed of at a hazardous waste landfill can contaminate soil and drinking water.  CFLs are known to reduce IQ, especially among children.  Bartell’s program is noteworthy as current drop-off locations are both difficult to find and often expensive.

PDC: Clear Pike, fine Realtors PAC

Bellingham Herald, Sept. 23
The State Public Disclosure Commission has found that the “Realtors Quality of Life Political Action Committee” violated the public disclosure law in disclosing $954,000.  How this will affect this fall’s campaigns is unclear.

Architecture out, "built environments" in at UW

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sept. 22
I am loath to include anything about the University of Washington, but they seem to continue to be on the right track with so many things to protect the environment.  Earlier this year they announced a new “College of the Environment.”  Now they’ve got a "College of Built Environments” to “reflects our core responsibility to 21st-century challenges -- urbanization, climate change and livable communities.”  My alma mater Washington State University isn’t out of the sustainability movement either.  Wazzu thinks its offering

Read more...

Sprawling debate over Fully Contained Communities in Snohomish County

Thursday, September 18, 2008

I recently became aware of an ongoing heated debate in Snohomish County thanks to a blog post by Jerry Cornfield at the HeraldNet. Local developer Dave Barnett wants to build a "fully contained community" (FCC) is waging an attack against county councilman Dave Somers via the website http://www.keepsnohomishcountyaffordable.org/. At the website Barnett alleges Somers's opposition to FCCs amounts to supporting sprawl, global warming, and unaffordable housing. Somers has struck back with his own website, http://www.keepsnohomishcountyaffordable.com/. Additionally, fellow councilman Mitch Ruth, who is a Republican, apparently also does not like FCCs and wrote a letter to the editor supporting Somers. This debate is likely to continue to unfold in news articles and the editorial page of the Daily Everett Herald in the months to come. 


UPDATES:
Big brawl over a mini-city still looms, Everett Daily Herald, Sept. 21
Six-month ban on applications for mini-cities, Everett Daily Herald, Oct. 30

This debate begs the question: Do FCCs prevent sprawl or do they promote sprawl? The answer depends. First, for this question let me define sprawl as any unnecessary development outside the existing Urban Growth Area (UGA). This is hardly a robust definition, but adequate for the purpose of the question. If UGAs are fully built out with maximum capacity, then, sure, FCCs are likely better than permitting higher density development in rural areas. However, if UGAs possess capacity for the 20-year population projection for a county, then FCCs are completely unnecessary and constitute sprawl. As the current Snohomish County UGAs possess more than adequate capacity for its 20-year population projection, Barnett's proposed FCC would be sprawl.

Read more...

Woodland Ridge v. Gleneagle Country Club, Ct. of Appeals Div. I Case No. 59736-1 (Sept. 15, 2008) (unpublished)

Monday, September 15, 2008

Go to opinion


Summary

Although this opinion is "unpublished," and thefore will not serve as precedent in future cases, the legal conclusion should be worrisome for local communities and activists.  The Court of Appeals held that third-parties are not implied beneficiaries of "zoning contracts" between a municipality and a developer, and therefore cannot sue the developer or municipality to hold either party responsible when a developer breaches a zoning contract.  The Court arrived at this conclusion because zoning contracts apparently are only an exercise of those zoning powers delegated to it by state statute.

Commentary

The Court failed to analyze whether such delegation necessarily supposed that third-parties were beneficiaries of any zoning action.  Indeed, as the U.S. Supreme Court held in Euclid so many years ago, zoning is an exercise of the state police powers for the benefit of the public's safety, health, and general welfare.  Thus, aren't third parties, in fact and law, beneficiaries of any zoning action by the city?  If third parties are not beneficiaries, is the municipality properly exercising within its police powers?

Read more...

Panesko v. Lewis County, WWGMHB Case No. 08-2-0007c, Order on Motions for Reconsideration (Sept. 15, 2008)

Go to Order on Motions for Reconsideration

Read more...

Brinnon Group v. Jefferson County, WWGMHB Case No. 08-2-0014, Final Dec. & Order (Sept. 15, 2008)

Go to Final Decision and Order

Read more...

Yakima County v. E. Wash. Growth Mgmt. Hearings Bd., Ct. of Appeals Div. III Case No. 26783-1-III (Sept. 11, 2008)

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Go to opinion


Summary

Yakima County originally designated Jim and Charlotte Caton's property as agricultural resource lands in the County's first comprehensive plan in 1997.  In 2001, the Catons requested a portion of their property be redesignated as "rural self-sufficient." The "rural self-sufficient" designation permitted an increase of development density to one dwelling unit per five acres.  Despite the planning staff's recommendation for denial, in 2002 the Yakima County Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners approved this redesignation for 1,086 acres.

The Wenas Citizens Association (WCA) appealed the decision to the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, who found the redesignation non-compliant with the GMA's agricultural lands criteria.  The Catons and Yakima County appealed the decision to Superior Court, who reversed the Board.  WCA appealed to the Court of Appeals (Div. III), who upheld the Superior Court and remanded the case to the Board for proper application of the burden of proof and deference to the county.  With the new instructions for applying te burden of proof, the Board again found the redesignation non-compliant.  The Catons and Yakima County again appealed to Superior Court, which again reversed the Board.  WCA appealed to the Court of Appeals.

In its decision, the Court of Appeals again upheld the Superior Court in reversing the Board.  The Court determined there was insufficient evidence to show that the County was "clearly erroneous" in redesignating the Catons' land from agricultural resource land (ARL) to "rural land self-sufficient."  In determining whether the land was appropriate for ARL designation, the Court applied the Supreme Court's test enunciated in its Lewis County decision:
[A]gricultural land is land: (a) not already characterized by urban growth (b) that is primarily devoted to the commercial production of agricultural products enumerated in RCW 36.70A.030(2), including land in areas used or capable of being used for production based on land characteristics, and (c) that has long-term commercial significance for agricultural production, as indicated by soil, growing capacity, productivity, and whether it is near population areas or vulnerable to more intense uses.
Lewis County v. W. Wash. Growth Mgmt. Hearings Bd., 157 Wn.2d 488, 502, 139 P.3d 1096 (2006).

The Court found that although the Catons' property was fully surrounding by ARL, the particular property was not primarily devoted to the commercial production of agricultural products and lacked long-term commercial significance.  The Court pointed out that the soil quality was less than prime, no irrigation water for was available, the land was sloped at upwards of 30%, and much of the land was in the federal Conservation Reserve Program.  The Board had noted this findings as well, but had found that the land was suitable for cattle grazing as this was the lands' historic use prior to its enterance into CRP.  However, the land had not been used for cattle production during the past 18 years as it was in CRP.  The Board provided no evidence that cattle production was viable and of long-term commercial significance in the future.  Finally and probably most importantly, the Court held that CRP was not an agricultural use, noting that CRP put land out of agricultural production, not into it.

The Court next considered whether the "rural self-sufficient" designation was appropriate.  The Court noted that development would be limited to one unit per five acres and agricultural production was encouraged.  Thus, the Court held that the County's redesignation was not "clearly erroneous" and reversed the Board's decision.
Commentary

The Court's decision raises three concerns for me: (1) proper application of the standard of review on appeal, (2) CRP land not being considered as ARL, and (3) the need for another land use designation in comprehensive planning.

First, it seems the Board applied the wrong standard of review.  While the Board applies the "clearly erroneous" standard as the first tribunal in determining whether a local government's action is non-compliant with the GMA (RCW 36.70A.130(3)), the Court is to apply the APA standard of review to the Board's decision, which is whether there was substantial evidence to uphold the Board's decision.  If this proper standard of review had been applied, the Board's decision may well have been upheld.

Second, the Court erroneously concluded that CRP land should not be considered as ARL.  I understand the Court's position that CRP land is not currently in agricultural production and is not of long-term commercial significance.  Farmland that is put into CRP is often the most marginally productive land in the first place and would not enter the program unless all other agricultural uses were less economically viable.  However, I believe CRP provides its own agricultural product for several reasons.  (1) While CRP land does not provide food or fiber to consumers, CRP does provide necessary ecological services to society.  The farmer cultivates his land for native habitat.  (2) CRP takes land out of other agricultural production in order to support commodity prices for farmers.  (3) One of the stated purposes of CRP is to increase the soil quality of land, thus becoming more productive once the land is put back into traditional agriculture.  (4) CRP land is of long-term commercial significance as the land must remain in the program with native vegetation for at least ten years otherwise the farmer incurs a significant penalty.  If the Court's holding on CRP remains, the state legislature should consider amending the GMA to specifically include CRP as ARL or create a new land designation (see below).

Third, the state legislature should consider creating a new land designation.  Currently, the GMA requires counties to designate their lands into four basic categories: urban growth areas (UGAs), critical areas for habitat protection of listed species, natural resource lands, and rural areas. RCW 36.70A.040.110. Natural resource areas are further broken into three categories: agricultural, forest, and mineral. But what happens when land fails to satisfy the requirements for critical areas and natural resources lands and are unsuitable for both a rural area and UGA designation?  Well, based on the Yakima County decision by the Court of Appeals, the county can do whatever it wants.  This is a bit inappropriate considering the principle objective of the GMA is to have smart planning.  In Eastern Washington, much land is either in CRP or on steep slopes inappropriate for rural housing at one unit per five acres.  Additionally, Eastern Washington is mostly a barren landscape.  Development on the hillsides has a significant affect on the aesthetic value to local communities, depriving cities of both their identity and their potential as agri-tourism destinations.

One solution might be to reflect this problem within rural area development regulations by reading the GMA provision that requires counties to provide a "variety of rural densities" as more than mere surplusage.  If "variety" was tied to "appropriateness" based on ecological, agricultural, and aesthetic values, a solution may be at hand.  However, the Court of Appeals in Yakima County implied that one unit per five acres is okay.  One per five is the minimum allowable density for rural areas.  This is not a good sign.

So the solution that may be required is for the legislature to create a whole new land designation for these "no man's lands."

Read more...

Futurewise v. Stevens County, EWGMHB Case No. 07-1-0014c, Order Granting Stipulated Motion for Dismissal (Sept. 9, 2008)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Go to Order Granting Stipulated Motion for Dismissal

Read more...

Stevens County v. Futurewise, Ct. of Appeals Div. III Case No. 26038-1-III (Sept. 4, 2008)

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Go to opinion


This opinion was originally posted as "unpublished."  After a petition by Futurewise to the Court of Appeals, the Court decided to publish its fine decision.  Now the opinion will serve as useful precedent for future "critical area" and "best available science" GMA cases.

Summary

Stevens County adopted a critical areas ordinance (CAO) that only designated critical habitat for species listed by the federal government or the State Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) as endangered, threatened, or sensitive by statute or formal agency rulemaking.  Data that met this criteria only included "points" - known sitings of listed species - but not "polygons," which indicated the range of listed species based on scientific methods.  "Polygons" were not designated in statute or through formal rulemaking, so these habitats were implicitly left out from protection.  The federal government and DFW recognizes six listed species as inhabiting Stevens County: bald eagle, golden eagle, bull trout, steelhead, common loon, and lynx.  Habitat of both the common loon and lynx were designated by polygons, but as the waterways were already protected for steelhead and bull trout, the lack of the polygon data most affected the lynx.

Futurewise petitioned the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board for review of Stevens County's adoption of its CAO.  After finding that Futurewise's petition was not barred by claim or issue preclusion (an issue I won't discuss here), the Board found Stevens County's CAO noncompliant with the GMA's critical areas designation requirements.  The County appealed to Superior Court, which upheld the Board.  The County appealed to the Court of Appeals.

The Court of Appeals upheld the Board as well.  The Court found that although "polygon" data was not created by statute or formal rulemaking, it nevertheless constituted the "best available science" under the GMA's definition.  Therefore, the County had failed to protect all critical habitat as required.  Additionally, the County failed to justify its deviation.  The Court concluded, "substantial evidence supports the Board’s conclusion that SCC 13.10.034(3)(C) does not comply with the GMA because it fails to designate all critical habitats and fails to consider the best available science in designating critical habitats."

Commentary

Eastern Washington counties have been especially reluctant in their CAO to protect all functions and values of critical habitat even when supported by the best available science.  The Court's decision will strengthen local citizen's efforts to protect listed species and preserve biological diversity.  Additionally, because the Court of Appeal is considered just one court (even though divided into three divisions), the opinion serves as precedent statewide.

Read more...

Statewide News, September 2008

Monday, September 1, 2008

Bellingham group, others sue to protect wolverines, Bellingham Herald, Sept. 30
A building ban near rivers?, Seattle P-I, Sept. 30
Turmoil rattles local real estate market, Seattle P-I, Sept. 30
LIFT money shouldn’t be such a gamble, The News Tribune, Sept. 28
Fight eco-depression with militant optimism, The Olympian, Sept. 27
Survey chronicles farmworker life, Capital Press, Sept. 26
Clean-water law doesn't ban car washing, The Olympian, Sept. 25
Northwest companies keeping close eye on energy tax credits, Seattle P-I, Sept. 24
Cantwell says Senate tax package has goodies for our state, The Olympian, Sept. 24
State on team to cut greenhouse gases, Seattle Times, Sept. 24
Western initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Seattle P-I, Sept. 24
Gubernatorial Debate: Changing climate, Seattle P-I, Sept. 22
WA governor's debate is big on transportation, The Oregonian, Sept. 21
Gregoire rips Rossi on environment, Seattle P-I, Sept. 20
Lots of Jabs, but No Ferry Solutions, in Debate, Kitsap Sun, Sept. 20
State takes on two builder groups, The News Tribune, Sept. 20
Maple Leaf rallies to save the trees in Waldo Woods, Seattle P-I, Sept. 19
Groups aim to spend money on fish, not court, Tri-City Herald, Sept. 19
Error forces board to review redevelopment awards, The Olympian, Sept. 19
Quadrant to lay off 45 due to slow home sales, The Olympian, Sept. 19
Calls for more monitoring of drugs and chemicals, Seattle P-I, Sept. 18
State to get $12 million in disaster relief for salmon fishery, Seattle Times, Sept. 18
$100 million released to aid salmon fishermen, Seattle P-I, Sept. 18
$1.3 billion I-90 project on Snoqualmie Pass, Bellingham Herald, Sept. 18
Builders’ group faces accusation of violations of state campaign law, The News Tribune, Sept. 15
They're not pretty, or good swimmers, but we need lamprey, The Oregonian, Sept. 14
Conservation groups sue over lumber pact dollars, Seattle Times, Sept. 12
Eyman pushes traffic solutions; others have doubts, The News Tribune, Sept. 12
Rossi, the second time around, Seattle P-I, Sept. 12
Scientists discuss plastics in the oceans during Tacoma conference, The News Tribune, Sept. 11
Democrats offer new offshore drilling plan, Seattle P-I, Sept. 11
Ecology Department penalties total $737,543 in 2nd quarter of 2008, Prosser Record-Bulletin, Sept. 10
WDFW predicts better razor clam season and plans public meetings, Chinook Observer, Sept. 9
Hood Canal: nature on the half-shell, Seattle Times, Sept. 9
State mortgage woes grow worse, Seattle P-I, Sept. 6
Soil scientist witnesses dramatic changes in ag, Capital Press, Sept. 5
Amtrak ridership is up in Washington, Oregon, Seattle P-I, Sept. 4
Ecology revising rule for underground storage tanks, Prosser Record-Bulletin, Sept. 3
Opinion: Washington View: Changing vesting laws would hurt families, The Columbian, Sept. 2

Read more...

Central Puget Sound News, September 2008

Art lights the way for Sound Transit, Seattle P-I, Sept. 30
On Architecture: Light rail stations are on the right track, Seattle P-I, 18 Sept. 30
Proposition 1: a critical first step, Seattle Times, Sept. 30
Reject Proposition 1's tax for light-rail expansion, Seattle Times, Sept. 28
Call for Sound protection focuses on land, Seattle P-I, Sept. 26
Cost to expand light rail in debate, Seattle P-I, Sept. 24
Proponents, opponents of Prop. 1 debate whether light rail is the right way to go, Seattle Times, Sept. 24
I-985 author Tim Eyman warns DOT: "You better prepare" to open up car-pool lanes, Seattle Times, Sept. 24
Eyman plans 'Freedom Drive' to claim HOV lanes, The News Tribune, Sept. 24
Combatants argue merits of Sound Transit, Seattle P-I, Sept. 23
Supporters, opponents of light rail face off in Proposition 1 debate, Seattle Times, Sept. 23
Sound Transit Wants to Spend $22 Billion to Reduce Congestion by 1%, Seattle Examiner, Sept. 23
Sound residents want growth in urban centers, report says, Seattle P-I, Sept. 23
Now it's easier to recycle fluorescent bulbs in the Puget Sound area, Everett Daily Herald, Sept. 23
Proposition 1 Backers hope big turnout can propel $17.9B plan, Seattle Times, Sept. 22
Everett, Tacoma get more rail links to Seattle, Seattle P-I, Sept. 19
Puget Sound train service expands Monday, Seattle P-I, Sept. 19
Mark Emmert: reality check for Puget Sound, Seattle Times, Sept. 19
Sound Transit to add rail and bus service, The News Tribune, Sept. 15
More bus and train options on the way for commuters, Everett Daily Herald, 15
Forget about personal space on Puget Sound-area buses, The News Tribune, Sept. 15
Everett-Seattle Transit Use Up 22 Percent, Everett Daily Herald, Sept. 15
Sound Transit's light rail plan may cut traffic 30%, says study, Seattle P-I, Sept. 11
Sound Transit ridership continues climb, Tacoma Daily News, Sept. 11
Whose Puget Sound is it?, The News Tribune, Sept. 8
Buses overflow, squeezing riders and transit in King, Snohomish counties, Seattle Times, Sept. 7
Opinion; Sound Transit 2: Why we need it, PNW Local News, Sept. 2

Read more...

King County News, September 2008

Developer picked for Tukwila Village, Highline Times, Sept. 30
Lake Burien residents oppose rezoning, Highline Times, Sept. 30
Way past time for action, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 30
Alaskan Way Viaduct: Craziest idea yet, Seattle P-I, Sept. 30
County Council OKs extra buses for Viaduct crunch, West Seattle Blog, Sept. 30
Sausage Links, total, complete bummer edition, Crosscut, Sept. 30
Review editorial, Sammamish Review, Sept. 30
“Turmoil,” “Fear,” & “Uncertainty” Bursting Seattle’s Bubble, Seattle Bubble, Sept. 30
Lake Burien residents oppose rezoning, Highline Times, Sept. 29
Seattle Times debunks Seattle Times' own position, Northwest Progressive Institute Blog, Sept. 29
Three advocates make the case for Sound Transit expansion, Crosscut, Sept. 29
Dioxin in soil? South Park takes finding in stride, Seattle P-I, Sept. 29
Don't let condo dues catch you by surprise, Seattle P-I, Sept. 29
Opinion: Does Seattle have too much single-family zoning?, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Sept. 29
Filtration system would clean up polluted runoff, Seattle P-I, Sept. 28
Green Lake: Retract the invite, Seattle P-I, Sept. 28
The Feminine Viaduct, Belltown Messenger, Sept. 27
City backed viaduct and transit lobbying, complaint says, Seattle P-I, Sept. 26
Sea-Tac's third runway set to open after years of delay, Seattle Times, Sept. 26
"Choppway" plan for Alaskan Way Viaduct unveiled, Seattle Times, Sept. 26
Development deal reached for "Donut Hole" in Maple Valley, Seattle Times, Sept. 26
Deadline passes for 'Nickelsville', Seattle Times, Sept. 26
Viaduct details won't be known until after election, Seattle P-I, Sept. 26
New Details Released About 2 Viaduct Replacement Options, KIRO TV, Sept. 26
Alaskan Way Viaduct: Three more updates, West Seattle Blog, Sept. 26
5 principles for renewing Seattle’s waterfront, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Sept. 25
Seattle home sales plummet 41% from a year ago, Seattle P-I, Sept. 25
Viaduct future: First data on “scenarios” to be released tomorrow, West Seattle Blog, Sept. 24
Grant gives King County, two cities $50.5 million for public housing, The News Tribune, Sept. 24
Auto Immune, The Stranger, Sept. 24
Microsoft Expands Employee Bus Service, Seattle P-I, Sept. 24
Mayor Marchione outlines the rise of Redmond, Redmond Reporter, Sept. 24
City legislation would tighten townhouse review, Ballard News Tribune, Sept. 23
Seattle Housing: Building justice, Seattle P-I, Sept. 23
City endorses regional affordable housing strategies, Sammamish Review, Sept. 23
City receives expanded bus service, Sammamish Review, Sept. 23
Study predicts major revisions to I-90 interchanges, Sammamish Review, Sept. 23
Beach plans start, Sammamish Review, Sept. 23
Editorial: Affordable Housing, Sammamish Review, Sept. 23
City approves 3 contracts, Sammamish Review, Sept. 23
Campaign for Affordable Bank Accounts, KPLU, Seattle P-I, Sept. 23
Portland, Ore., tops sustainable cities list; Seattle third, Christian Science-Monitor, Sept. 22
Architecture out, "built environments" in at UW, Seattle P-I, Sept. 22
Details: New vision for coordinating Junction development, West Seattle Blog, Sept. 22
Homeless settle into 'Nickelsville', Seattle P-I, Sept. 23
"Nickelsville" springs up in Highland Park, Seattle Times, Sept. 23
Developer's support pledged at Goodwill hearing, Seattle P-I, Sept. 22
Spot Returning Salmon in Redmond, Eastside Business Journal, Sept. 22
Editorial: Seattle Cafes: Switching menus, Seattle P-I, Sept. 21
Plan updates move to full council, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 21
King County housing projects get boost from the feds, Seattle P-I, Sept. 21
Seattle business leaders look beyond tough times, Seattle Times, Sept. 20
What's a more likely scenario with Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct?, PolitickerWA, Sept. 19
Parking Spots Transformed Into Parks, KIRO, Sept. 19, 2008
Port of Seattle pays $10000 for dredging mistake, Seattle Times, Sept. 19
Redevelopment of Fort Lawton, KUOW NPR, Sept. 19
King Co., Sound Transit to add 12 hybrid buses, Seattle P-I, Sept. 19
Seattle recycling more commercial food waste, Seattle P-I, Sept. 19
Charles Royer & Greg Smith: Give waterfront back to the people, Seattle P-I, Sept. 18
Seattle's growth projection reflects a city pushing limits, Seattle P-I, Sept. 18
This just in! Yet another Viaduct solution!, Crosscut, Sept. 18
Anglers upset over hatchery changes, SnoValley Star, Sept. 18
Editorial: Tokul Creek Hatchery closure needs explaining, SnoValley Star, Sept. 18
District recalculates impact fees, SnoValley Star, Sept. 18
Fort Lawton plan near final stage, Queen Anne News, Sept. 18
Nickels Calls For Plan To Create More Workforce Housing, Seattle Medium, Sept. 18
City holds public meetings about Sammamish Landing, Sammamish Review, Sept. 17
The more the merrier?, Sammamish Review, Sept. 17
Do Schools Need Sewers?, Seattle Weekly, Sept. 17
South Lake Union's profile on the rise?, Seattle Times, Sept. 17
Could a convention center work at Seattle Center?, Crosscut, Sept. 17
Is it legal for bikers 'riding the line' of bike lanes?, Seattle P-I, Sept. 16, 2008
Opinion: We recycle cans and bottles, why not buildings?, Seattle Times, Sept. 16
Seattle's 20-cent plastic-bag fee on hold until citywide vote, likely next August, Seattle Times, Sept. 16
Water taxi traffic up 9 percent in August, Seattle P-I, Sept. 16
More routes, more service for Metro, Seattle P-I, Sept. 16
Parking program under review, Ballard News Tribune, Sept. 16
Incentive zoning plan going to council, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 15
Code change would address bad design, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 15
Plan updates move to full council, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 15
Transit projects will spark delays, congestion, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 15
Dykeman center asks for Lake Burien rezoning, Highline Times, Sept. 15
Advocates mobilize to fight affordable housing crisis, Seattle P-I, Sept. 15
Opinion: Land use laws should reflect today's reality, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, Sept. 15
City's bike plan has more than commuters in mind, Seattle P-I, Sept. 15
Seattle-area foreclosures soar, Seattle P-I, Sept. 12
Toxic dioxins found in South Park dirt, Seattle P-I, Sept. 12
The Nuke Building could get nuked, Crosscut, Sept. 12
Drugs affect more drinking water; Seattle tests clean, KOMO, Sept. 11
Open House Viaduct Meetings Starting, KIRO, Sept. 11
The freaky economics of a ride to Sea-Tac Airport, Crosscut, Sept. 11
Creating 'people places', Crosscut, Sept. 11
State promises more buses, West Seattle Herald.com, Sept. 11
Plan balances neighborhoods, growth, Seattle P-I, Sept. 11
House values drop by double digits, Seattle P-I, Sept. 10
New economic development director has ideas for Shoreline, Shoreline/LFP Enterprise, Sept. 10
Lawsuit filed over proposed gravel mine expansion, Seattle P-I, Sept. 10
Council approves contracts, Sammamish Review, Sept. 10
Sammamish gets lakeside property, Sammamish Review, Sept. 10
Impact fee plan raises eyebrows, Snoqualmie Valley Record, Sept. 10
Innovative vacation-home style sells despite market woes, Seattle P-I, Sept. 9
Chop, chop, Crosscut, Sept. 9
University of the Future, Seattle U. Mag., Sept. 9
City reviews residential parking zone policy, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 9
Opinions sought on viaduct, Seattle P-I, Sept. 10
City reviews residential parking zone policy, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 10
$8.6 million to finish "Missing Link", Ballard Herald, Sept. 9
City unveils campaign to entice businesses to invest in Federal Way, Federal Way News, Sept. 8
Rossi's transportation plan could hit major money snag, Seattle Times, Sept. 8
Getting There: Green mat tells drivers to look out for cyclists, Seattle P-I, Sept. 8
There's sudden movement in updating Seattle neighborhood plans, Crosscut, Sept. 7
Business mag recognizes Kirkland businesses for fast growth, Kirkland Reporter, Sept. 5
Editorial: Alaskan Way Viaduct: Bus by bus, Seattle P-I, Sept. 3
City To Redevelop Chubby & Tubby Site In Southeast Seattle, Seattle Medium, Sept. 3
Op-Ed - West Seattle needs mass transit now, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 3
Op-Ed - Ballard needs mass transit now, West Seattle Herald, Sept. 2
Bus service to be beefed up during Viaduct work, Seattle P-I, Sept. 2
Broken rules could benefit neighborhoods, Seattle P-I, Sept. 1

Read more...

Recent Posts on Blog Roll

All content created under the Creative Commons License  

Back to TOP