It has been 25 years since the Washington State Legislature passed the Growth Management Act (GMA) into law and more than 44 years since the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) was enacted. Rep. Liz Pike believes it is time for a review of the state's growth and environmental regulations, and she wants to hear from area residents.
Pike has scheduled a town hall meeting in Battle Ground on Thu., Sept. 24 to take public comment on the decades-old laws.
"The SEPA and GMA laws are intended to protect Washington's environment from impacts relating to development, and to manage our state's population growth through comprehensive planning. While well meaning, they are also some of the most invasive and controversial measures ever enacted in Washington state," said Pike, R-Camas. "Unfortunately, in some cases, these laws have gone too far as a 'one-size-fits-all' approach that is overly protective and unreasonably restrictive."
At the end of the 2015 session, Pike said she asked House Local Government Committee Chairman Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview, to consider a work session on GMA this fall.
"I'm very pleased that Representative Takko took my suggestion and scheduled a review of the Growth Management Act during a work session of the Local Government Committee on October 2. Subsequently, the House Environment Committee has scheduled a work session on October 26 to review environmental permitting requirements. I welcome these rare and unique opportunities to provide structured reviews of these acts," said Pike, who serves as a member on both committees. "In preparation, I am hosting a town hall meeting to discuss GMA and SEPA reforms so that our rural landowners who are most affected will be heard. I want to carry their concerns and input to these committees in Olympia."
Pike's GMA/SEPA town hall meeting will be held Thu., Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. at the Clark County Fire and Rescue Station 26, 21609 N.E. 72nd Ave., in Battle Ground.
"While there have been many discussions over the years nibbling around the edges of the GMA and SEPA laws, there hasn't been a full and comprehensive review of these measures since they were enacted. This is the public's opportunity to tell me what is working, what is not, and what needs to be changed or eliminated. I invited citizens to join me for this important meeting," added Pike.
For more information about the town hall meeting, contact Pike's district office in Camas at (360) 210-4534.
For more information about Rep. Pike, visit: www.representativelizpike.com.
