GMA is working, density isn’t sprawl

I read with frustration comments made to Gov. Chris Gregoire at her recent town hall meeting in Everett. Especially the line that “several residents said they want more done to preserve the state’s Growth Management Act and prevent sprawl into rural areas.” I believe this shows a basic misunderstanding of our state’s growth management act . The GMA caused areas of our state to be designated as places for growth (Urban Growth Areas) while allowing only 20 percent growth in rural areas. In the last 10 years Snohomish County has actually done better then the GMA requires – 18 percent growth in rural areas, 82 percent in urban areas. (No doubt many people feel that added density to their neighborhoods and those surrounding them is “sprawl,” which simply isn’t true.)

The point of the Growth Management Act is that cities as well as unincorporated areas take most of the growth – that’s right, the GMA mandates density! That is not sprawl, it is simply the GMA working as it was intended. Sadly, these days most people define sprawl as any home that is newer than their own!

Nathan Gorton

Everett