The Lake Washington School District's proposed STEM School is currently being held up by two Appeals. One of the Appeals is related to the Growth Management Act and the location of the STEM School outside of the Urban Growth Boundary. Click to enlarge Susan's map. B.Y.
History of Growth Management in Redmond, WA.
By Susan Wilkins
Redmond Resident, Parent, and PTSA volunteer
In response to widespread growth and sprawl in the state, especially in Western Washington, the legislature passed the Growth Management Act in 1990 that created areas where significant urban growth would be concentrated, leaving large areas of rural and forestland undeveloped.
Urban Growth Boundary lines were drawn around cities and parts of the county that were already developed and populated. Urban services were to be concentrated inside the urban growth area in order to provide the most benefit to the majority of the population at the lowest possible cost. Housing developments that could be built anywhere in King County were suddenly only allowed inside the urban growth boundary. Read More >>
It made sense to concentrate businesses and housing construction in areas where stores, roads, buses, water supplies, sewers and emergency services were available. And while some people resented being told what they could or could not do with their land, depending on which side of the growth boundary line the land was on, most everyone can appreciate the fact that the GMA has prevented Target or Walmart from building a superstore out near Carnation Farm or in the upper Snoqualmie Valley where land is plentiful and cheap.
In Redmond, the Urban Growth Boundary line is drawn north-south along Avondale Road and then east along Union Hill Road to Evans Creek encompassing the business area to the east around Target and Fred Meyer. We can easily see the difference in density when we drive along Avondale Road – to the west and up the hill there are lots of houses, but on the east side of the road, it’s mostly horse farms or vacant land. Bear Creek can be seen here and there winding through forest and grassland. Following Redmond Way east to SR202 and then toward Sahalee Way, the transition from urban to rural is abrupt and easy to recognize. As soon as SR202 tops the hill and enters the broad valley to the east, all the houses and apartments are left behind and there are farms, a few houses but mostly vacant land. By concentrating housing density inside the Urban Growth Boundary, it has been possible to protect rural land from uncontrolled development and sprawl.
The Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A) did not specifically create rules concerning how growth is supposed to occur. Instead, it mandated that cities and counties had to create their own set of rules to conform to the intent of the GMA. These rules are contained in what is known as the Comprehensive Plan. Redmond has its own Comprehensive Plan that dictates where growth should be concentrated and to what level of density. King County also has its Comprehensive Plan that applies to the entire county and the outlying rural areas.
Redmond Ridge – An Urban Planned Development
In addition to growth being limited to cities and county land inside the Urban Growth Boundary, the Growth Management Act contained a provision for creating “urban planned developments” in rural areas. These UPDs were intended to be self-contained, high-density communities where people could “live, work and play.” Redmond Ridge is an urban planned development (UPD), a self-contained community at the top of Union Hill. Trilogy, a retirement community and golf course on the north side of Novelty Hill Road is also part of the Redmond Ridge UPD. It has sections for shopping and dining, a gas station, a grocery store, medical offices and other small businesses. It was also intended that regional companies would create jobs at Redmond Ridge, but that has not happened yet.
Living inside the Urban Growth Boundary in Redmond means higher density and that translates into having a lot of amenities and services close-by. A trip to work, to the store or to a doctor’s office is quicker and easier than for families living in rural areas. But the down-side is that there is more traffic, more waiting, more competition for scare land and recreation facilities. Planning for growth is an ongoing balancing act for cities and residents and will be as the population continues to grow.
By Susan Wilkins
Redmond, WA.
By Susan Wilkins
Redmond Resident, Parent, and PTSA volunteer
In response to widespread growth and sprawl in the state, especially in Western Washington, the legislature passed the Growth Management Act in 1990 that created areas where significant urban growth would be concentrated, leaving large areas of rural and forestland undeveloped.
Urban Growth Boundary lines were drawn around cities and parts of the county that were already developed and populated. Urban services were to be concentrated inside the urban growth area in order to provide the most benefit to the majority of the population at the lowest possible cost. Housing developments that could be built anywhere in King County were suddenly only allowed inside the urban growth boundary. Read More >>
It made sense to concentrate businesses and housing construction in areas where stores, roads, buses, water supplies, sewers and emergency services were available. And while some people resented being told what they could or could not do with their land, depending on which side of the growth boundary line the land was on, most everyone can appreciate the fact that the GMA has prevented Target or Walmart from building a superstore out near Carnation Farm or in the upper Snoqualmie Valley where land is plentiful and cheap.
In Redmond, the Urban Growth Boundary line is drawn north-south along Avondale Road and then east along Union Hill Road to Evans Creek encompassing the business area to the east around Target and Fred Meyer. We can easily see the difference in density when we drive along Avondale Road – to the west and up the hill there are lots of houses, but on the east side of the road, it’s mostly horse farms or vacant land. Bear Creek can be seen here and there winding through forest and grassland. Following Redmond Way east to SR202 and then toward Sahalee Way, the transition from urban to rural is abrupt and easy to recognize. As soon as SR202 tops the hill and enters the broad valley to the east, all the houses and apartments are left behind and there are farms, a few houses but mostly vacant land. By concentrating housing density inside the Urban Growth Boundary, it has been possible to protect rural land from uncontrolled development and sprawl.
The Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A) did not specifically create rules concerning how growth is supposed to occur. Instead, it mandated that cities and counties had to create their own set of rules to conform to the intent of the GMA. These rules are contained in what is known as the Comprehensive Plan. Redmond has its own Comprehensive Plan that dictates where growth should be concentrated and to what level of density. King County also has its Comprehensive Plan that applies to the entire county and the outlying rural areas.
Redmond Ridge – An Urban Planned Development
In addition to growth being limited to cities and county land inside the Urban Growth Boundary, the Growth Management Act contained a provision for creating “urban planned developments” in rural areas. These UPDs were intended to be self-contained, high-density communities where people could “live, work and play.” Redmond Ridge is an urban planned development (UPD), a self-contained community at the top of Union Hill. Trilogy, a retirement community and golf course on the north side of Novelty Hill Road is also part of the Redmond Ridge UPD. It has sections for shopping and dining, a gas station, a grocery store, medical offices and other small businesses. It was also intended that regional companies would create jobs at Redmond Ridge, but that has not happened yet.
Living inside the Urban Growth Boundary in Redmond means higher density and that translates into having a lot of amenities and services close-by. A trip to work, to the store or to a doctor’s office is quicker and easier than for families living in rural areas. But the down-side is that there is more traffic, more waiting, more competition for scare land and recreation facilities. Planning for growth is an ongoing balancing act for cities and residents and will be as the population continues to grow.
By Susan Wilkins
Redmond, WA.
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