Former Governors Oppose Isthmus Height Increase

This is a great example of poor leadership. I wouldn't have known about this unless it was in the editorial section of The Olympian. I guess this is one time I'll have to thank them.

As reported by Micki Hemstadt -- all of the past Governors have signed on to oppose the height increase being proposed in the City of Olympia. The are: Albert Rosellini, Mike Lowry, John Spellman, Booth Gardner, Gary Locke, and Dan Evans. My friend Ralph Monroe, former Secretary of State also signed on to the idea -- what were you thinking Ralph?

Here is why they should not have signed on to any opposition. The Growth Management Act encourages higher density growth within our Cities. It also gives each jurisdiction deference to grow how they see best fit. It is the Governor's job to make sure that the goals of Growth Management are carried out by appointing people to the Growth Management Boards. The state sets the guidelines, the local jurisdictions figure out how they want to implement it. Mostly a bottom up style management. GMA is supposed to be a self-governing program.

It is not the job of the Governors to impose their opinion in a top down style management. They have no place in signing on to the opposition of the height increase especially when the height increase is consistent with the goals of Growth Management.

I think that the proposal is asking for enough height to put another story on the buildings in this area. There will be some very minor impact to the views, but access to Bud Bay really won't be impacted at all. It is a proposal that would add a lot more than it would take from downtown. It would be a great public benefit to have development in this area.

I think that the Governors grew tired of looking at the old Department of Corrections 10-story building. It's the most prominent feature when looking out from the Governor's mansion. The Proposed height increase will only allow buildings to be half as tall as this old one.

Sandra Romero Credentials

Peggy Bruton, a Sandra Romero supporter echos the beliefs of Romero in her editorial titled "Romero Has Solid Credentials" appearing in The Olympian on July 1st, 2008.

Bruton has it wrong and it is indicative of Romero's ideology of putting the interestes of her special-interest group Futurewise (and Liveable Thurston) ahead of the interests of the people of Thurston County.

First Bruton writes, "In the long term, the county has failed to adopt measures, such as impact fees, to slow development in rural Thurston County and redirect it to urban growth areas." This would be an incorrect use of impact fees, but one that is popular with Romero and her group Futurewise. Impact fees are intended to "To ensure that adequate facilities are available to serve new growth and development." (RCW 8202.050) And that is it. Impact fees are not a mechanism to improve or restrict growth, that is the job of the marketplace and the law of supply and demand.

Secondly, Bruton writes, "Short-term, the county has made serious mistakes, such as wasting taxpayer dollars to challenge the Growth Management Hearings Board decision that the county's growth management plan needs more rural zoning options." This is again the position of Romero and Futurewise, but not the truth. The truth is, that under the Growth Management Act, jusidictions have the ability to plan with defrence. In other words, each local jurisdiction can create a plan that makes sense for them. 1 unit per 5 acres is a rural zoning, and when Thurston County adopted their comprehensive plan, the pople of Thurston County adopted their rural zoning plan to be 1 unit per 5 acres.

It was an out-of-town, Seattle-based group called Futurewise that challenged the Thurston County comprehensive plan, and caused Thurston County to defend, and revise the existing plan where needed. Sandra Romero is a board member of this group and now wants to be a County Commissioner. Isn't this like sending the fox to the henhouse?

There are much better options available for this postition:

Robin Edmondson

Jon Halvorson

Pick one!