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May/June 2000 issue (#45)
Why would a group of organizations including the League of Women Voters of Thurston County put up their noses at a sewer? Don't we need lots of them to keep our area clean? Late last year the county commissioners voted to recommend extending a sewer line more than four miles beyond the Urban Growth Boundary. The Commissioners said their intent is to serve only two Cooper Point neighborhoods (near Olympia), where present systems are seriously stressed, and to allow not more than 100 additional homes (with failing systems) to hook up to the new line. But many residents see the added sewer line as laying the groundwork for more development--and as a step backward from the elusive goals of the Growth Management Act. The GMA is supposed to contain growth within urban boundaries so all of Washington State will not consist of freeways, homes, and fast-food franchises.
The Cooper Point Association, the League of Women Voters and several individual citizens have joined forces to form the Cooper Point Alliance. We will file a petition for review of the County action with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board.
We are charging that the County acted to permit extension of urban services to an area designated as rural--in clear violation of the GMA--when no threat to public health or environmental quality has been demonstrated. We are also charging that the County violated public notification requirements in developing the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and throughout the planning process; and that the SEIS was flawed. For example, other viable technologies, enforcement or education were not adequatrely explored.
We are concerned about the precedent being set by the Board of Thurston County Commissioners in delivering urban services beyond the Urban Growth Boundary.
The petitioners, represented in this action by attorney Barnett N. Kalikow, include Sylviann Frankus, Michael Lynch, Lea Mitchell, Tom Mumford and Jolene Unsoeld, in addition to the League of Women Voters of Thurston County and the Cooper Point Association.
In an open letter from the League, President Sylviann Frankus cautions, "We must not think this is just an issue for the Cooper Point area. Exceptions to the urban growth boundaries are being made here in Thurston County and elsewhere." She asks rhetorically, "Do we want to allow the Growth Management Act to be eroded insidiously?"
An attempt at settlement last month was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the County has filed a motion to dismiss the petition, holding that the sewer line extension is only one of several options under consideration and not a "project action," and that therefore the petition is inappropriate.
The Growth Management Hearings Board, which deals with GMA questions in the 14 counties of Western Washington (other than the 4 central Puget Sound Counties--King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap) will consider the motion to dismiss early next month. Assuming the case continues, arguments on the merits will be heard in June and decided in the ensuing months.
The Cooper Point Alliance gratefully accepts individual and organizational contributions to support this effort. Contact Sylviann Francus, (360) 866-2973 or lwvtc@pugetsoundwa.net
On Capitol Hill, 185 people are sharing 10 cars. They are part of the year-and-a-half-old Flexcar program, a car-sharing arrangement that helps the environment and peoples' budgets. For $25, which covers the cost of a Department of Motor Vehicles check, and attendance at one orientation meeting, people can join. They get quick access to a car by phone/computer reservation, and pay an hourly and per-mile fee every time they drive. No insurance, no paying for gas (they fill up with a Flexcar gas card), no car payments, no maintenance fees, no car washing. The cars are parked at 15th Ave. E and Harrison; Broadway E. and Mercer; Seattle Central Community College; and Summit and E. John. As more people join, more cars will be added, a spokesman for Flexcar said. The program began in January 1999, following the start of similar arrangements in Portland and in several Canadian and European cities. Next areas to get Flexcar will be downtown and Belltown. Residents on Queen Anne Hill were scheduled to begin in late April. The program is partly funded by King County because studies show that car sharers often use mass transit where possible. All the cars are Honda Civics with a/c. A member spends about $130.50 a month, using the car for errands, shopping, and recreation. An owner of a personal car would spend about $290 a month for the same amount of driving, according to Flexcar. To learn more about the program, to go www.flexcar.com; or 206-323-FLEX.
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