| Affordable housing advocates scored a major victory recently in the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Boards’ decision to uphold a Kittitas County ordinance allowing “cluster” development in rural portions of the County. A group of anti-growth environmentalists and local activists challenged the ordinance, alleging it violated the Growth Management Act (GMA) by allowing “urban sprawl.”
The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), Central Washington Home Builders Association, and builder Mitchell F. Williams intervened on behalf of the County to support the cluster ordinance. BIAW and its coalition partners argued the challenge was not brought within the proper timeframe, and therefore, should have been thrown out by the Growth Board.
BIAW also argued the cluster subdivision ordinance is a sensible solution to providing sufficient affordable housing, while at the same time protecting the rural nature of the County. Cluster developments allow development at higher densities in rural areas. Specifically, Kittitas County’s ordinance allows higher densities if builders cluster the development and set aside portions of the property as open space. The anti-growth group argued the ordinance violated the GMA by allowing “sprawl” in rural areas. BIAW argued the cluster subdivision was lawful and the type of ordinance the GMA explicitly allows. The Growth Board agreed with BIAW’s arguments, ruling the challenge was brought too late.
“This is a significant victory for families seeking affordable housing in Kittitas County,” said BIAW Legal Counsel Andy Cook. “The cluster subdivision ordinance is a common sense solution that allows for responsible development to occur.”
“Unfortunately, local NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) groups too often use the GMA as a weapon to stop development, which in turn drives up housing costs,” said Cook. “Fortunately, the Board’s decision won’t allow that to happen in Kittitas County.”
Cook noted, however, this is not the last battle on this issue. Anti-growth groups have targeted Kittitas County because of its proximity to King County and because more development is taking place, and they are fighting to shut down all development in Kittitas County.
The anti-growth group, Futurewise, recently filed another GMA challenge with the Eastern Washington Growth Board seeking to invalidate the County’s comprehensive plan. BIAW has intervened in that case as well. “We will continue to fight every attempt by these groups to restrict housing and make it impossible for working wage families and first-time homebuyers to realize their dream of owning a home,” said Cook. | 