Housing

Here’s a thought for the R1 Zone that borders the ACFL — what if those folks who used some of  their space to plant berries, fruit trees, raise chickens, kitchen gardens which could supply our already existing farmer’s markets, thus securing a little more green border at city limits, got a “waiver” from the planning department protecting them from ADU or subdivision requirements? 

Have you ever wondered why people often say growth is inevitable? One of our council members mentioned we’ve been growing at a slow 1% annually and that if a town stops growing, it dies. Perhaps this core belief needs to be challenged?  What do you think? Since I don’t know much about the economic realities of this issue, I asked AI. “1% annual growth or the town will die” is not supported by research on…

In Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) Case No. 0002c, Ian Munce and Evergreen Islands v. City of Anacortes, the Board addressed my issue as to ongoing, pre-existing critical area destruction in my immediate neighborhood by pointing out that AMC 19.70.040 as newly adopted simply prohibits such ongoing destruction. Pages 7 and 8 are attached for review and consideration. Yet, these activities continue not just in my neighborhood and across the City. My next step was…

I guess we should have expected it, but it’s disappointing none the less. Since “affordable housing” is a critical issue for all our communities, it is now being used as a cudgel or enticement for what would otherwise be an unacceptable development options. For Skagit County, the implementation of GMA was particularly painful. We were delinquent in implementing the law and were at risk of sanctions from Olympia by the time we actually adopted our…