The chronic shortage of athletic fields in Snohomish County has been reported in this newspaper for years. As more families move here, creating more demand and pushing the price of land beyond the reach of local governments, the problem just gets worse.
In Olympia, a creative and reasonable solution is in play. Senate Bill 5661, introduced by Sen. Dave Schmidt (R-Mill Creek), was approved by the Senate last week. It would allow local governments to redesignate agricultural land that hasn’t been farmed for at least five years for recreational uses, such as sports fields. No permanent structures, like restrooms or concrete dugouts, could be constructed, conserving the land for future agricultural use. The city or county in question would have to review the interim use every year, and consider whether the land could be productive for farming.
Now it’s the House’s turn to play ball. The bill faces opposition in the House Local Government Committee, where environmental groups figure to pressure members to kill it.
Rep. David Simpson (D-Everett), the committee’s vice chair, and Rep. Jeanne Edwards (D-Bothell) would do a real favor for families here by going to bat for the measure, fighting to get committee approval. This reasonable bill deserves no less than an up-or-down vote of the full House.
This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Two area Democrats — Jean Berkey of Everett and Paull Shin of Mukilteo — voted for the measure in the Senate, as did Democrat Aaron Reardon of Everett when it came up last year. Snohomish County House Democrats, who represent families that are being hurt by the field shortage, should follow suit.
The bill’s opponents appear unwilling to compromise on anything that would lead to even temporary non-farm uses of designated agricultural land. They seem to worry about precedents that could lead to the unraveling of the Growth Management Act, opening the door to sprawl.
But theoretical concerns pale in the face of real solutions to real problems. Designated farmland is going unused, and children and adults are going without facilities that encourage healthy lifestyles. Using the land while still preserving it for future farm use is the kind of compromise that should be applauded.
Reasonable solutions like this deserve full consideration, which in this case means a vote on the House floor. Simpson and Edwards will score a goal for area families by working to get it there.
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