On April 17th, the Natural Resources Committee held an informal conversation with well-known community environmental activist Tom Campbell. Tom was one of the designers of the Growth Management Act and visionary of the sustainable neighborhood of Clearwater Commons. He supplements his work for social and environmental justice with yearly trips to Cuba and continuous efforts to provide food for immigrant families. At the point of our meeting, he was anxious to assist in an early childcare project.
Tom discussed his involvement with the Climate Action Group for the County Executive and the development of climate resiliency plans. He emphasized the importance of moving from aspirational policies to measurable regulations that can track progress toward greenhouse gas emission targets. Tom highlighted challenges in green building, including increased costs and the need for public intervention to address affordability. He also mentioned the difficulty of building affordable housing and the impact of regulatory requirements on construction costs. Tom noted that building costs have significantly increased from $225 to $400 per square foot over the past five years, with regulatory costs and engineering studies driving costs higher.
Tom discussed how large out-of-state builders can afford to hold projects for three years due to their national portfolios. He explained that while the original GMA was intended to constrain low-density sprawl, recent legislative changes are now imposing new requirements on density and tiny homes within the urban growth area in order to contain growth. However, he finds that the construction industry maintains pressure on moving the urban growth boundaries to find cheaper, less problematic buildable lands. Moving forward, he advised that future properties may come with deed restrictions to attempt to offset damage to the environment. For ideas, he suggested that the Committee watch for the Built Green “Home Tour” on its website. See the full conversation with Tom at our
YouTube channel.
The remainder of the Committee discussion focused on the following:
- Field Trips – Suggestions included Willow Creek Salmon Restoration in Edmonds, Pine St., the new staff/building for The Everett Herald, Housing Hope on Broadway, Everett, and a PUD Industrial Complex, Arlington.
- Property Tax – How might our League extend the information of this educational all-member meeting to break down the information even further for the public. The committee suggested creating another committee to take this on.
- Joan covered the highlights of Martin Gibbons’ Climate Crisis and Energy Issue Legislative report.
- Pride Parade in Snohomish – Joan asked if the League is considering its presence after the controversy over holding it this year.
- Flower World misinformation – Joan advised members to read the full story in the Lynnwood Times.
- On Your Bookshelf: Elizabeth Letts’ The Ride of Her Life inspires readers to take the reins of life to reach a dream. Finding herself penniless and facing death, farmer Annie Wilkins sets out in 1954, accompanied only by her young dog Depeche Toi, to ride an elderly Morgan horse, Tarzan, from Maine to California. Her many adventures uncover the deeply rooted kindness of America.
NEXT MEETING: May 15, 10:00 A.M. by Zoom. Guest Speaker, Grace Yoo, Manager of Economic Development for Snohomish County, will address the issues of upholding the Climate Commitment Act while encouraging economic progress, notably at Paine Field and with Boeing.