From The Reporter of March 12 and 19, I get the idea people who live in the Maple Valley – Black Diamond area are not happy with the planned developments called The Villages and Lawson Hills. There is concern over traffic and school capacity.
From looking at the number of homes and apartments mentioned, it seems they will be dense developments, which is not what long time residents want. The quote from Jay McElroy in the hearing shows that.
Shirley Jones’ letter (March 19) gives the opinion that this density is due to profiteering by the developer. However, there’s another reason.
That is the Growth Management Act, part of the state laws (RCW 36.70A). It requires cities to plan development, and take a certain amount of population increase. King County has defined urban growth areas, and has drawn an urban growth boundary line. Inside this line, near established cities, it has been decided that density must increase. Outside the line building must be discouraged, and economic activity must be controlled. It must serve only rural area type of economic activity.
Population forecasts are made. The density cities must take is based on this forecast.
There used to be lot sizes in the rural area one-third acre to one acre. Later on, the county decided that wasn’t to be allowed any more. Lots in the rural area had to be larger.
What dense development does is to jam up our roads. The county is supposed to control traffic volumes by rating roads according to the built environment, plus what is already permitted. It’s called concurrency. (Road capacity is supposed to be concurrent with the built environment). But they haven’t kept their word. They’ve allowed dense development without enlarging roads, even though those roads are rated as needing expansion, and they’re not supposed to allow any more development, which those roads would serve.
Why did this happen? Lots of homes on large lots was deemed sprawl, which they decided was bad. The fact that people wanted to live that way didn’t matter. People in government decided to squelch it.
Do you realize what has happened with these laws? You have lost the freedom to build on the lot size you want. You must either live in a city on a small lot, or live in the rural area on a lot you may consider too large. Even then, if you live on 5 acres, and want to subdivide to have 2 lots, so a home can be built for your children, this probably won’t be allowed.
Please notice the word “allowed”. King County and the state Legislature are telling you what is allowed. The new zoning doesn’t separate residential lands from commercial lands any more. The current fad is “mixed development”, i.e. apartments over stores, much density near rail and bus lines, and “walkable” neighborhoods. You’re supposed to walk to the store or the doctor’s office. The idea is to plan land use so you don’t have to drive. Cars are bad.
The only way to get out of this bind the county and state have put you in is to change the philosophy in the County Council and the Legislature. This means elect different people. These people must respect your freedom, or they will be just like the current ones.
Martha L. Parker
Renton
