UGA or LAMIRD: Gaylord, Moser make their cases

"A UGA (Urban Growth Area) is the only viable alternative" for Eastsond, said San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord.

"I disagree," answered Mount Vernon Attorney Tom Moser, who served as this county's prosecuting attorney from 1977 to 1979. "There is a rural alternative, a LAMIRD (Limited Area of Intensive Rural Development)."

Gaylord and Moser debated whether Eastsound and, for that matter, Orcas Island and San Juan County, would be better off with Eastsound designated a UGA or LAMIRD. (The decision will be made by county commissioners some time in October, after additional town meetings in Eastsound and a public hearing before the San Juan County Planning Commission in early September.)

Each spoke for about 30 minutes, then answered questions from the approximately 35 people who attended the July 26 discussion at Orcas Center. It was sponsored by Dorothy Austin.

Gaylord began his speech by contending that the issue is moot, because the county isn't considering an alternative to a UGA. The only matter for discussion is "the boundaries," he said, explaining that the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, in response to a 2001 appeal by Austin, ruled that a "UGA is appropriate," while a LAMIRD couldn't meet the dictates of the state's Growth Management Act. The act requires communities to accommodate future growth, and channel the bulk of it into urban areas in order to prevent sprawl and protect the rural areas. The prosecuting attorney also pointed out that Lopezians had opted for a UGA for Lopez Village even though it is far more rural than Eastsound.

Moser rejected the notion that a UGA has to be a done deal. He also argued that the state Growth Management Act allows Eastsound to become a LAMIRD, and he urged those at the meeting to lobby all three commissioners for the rural alternative. Moser also stated that a LAMIRD fits the vision statement of the county's Comprehensive Plan, as it states, "We envision a community that is primarily rural..."

The attorney also contended that the costs to add the infrastructure required for UGAs will be nearly three times as much as much as those governing LAMIRDs ($380/foot, compared to $133/foot), because the former designation will require implementation of urban level services including widening the streets and adding sidewalks, curbs, gutters and street lights. Moser also predicted that a UGA will result in higher taxes for those who live in Eastsound or throughout the county. The cost estimates were furnished by Doug Matoon, a former director of the San Juan County Public Works Department, who is now a consultant for municipalities in the state of Washington.

Moser also contended that making Eastsound a UGA could force it to become an incorporated town. Gaylord disagreed, adding that there are unincorporated UGAs elsewhere in Washington State.

Moser then referenced a recent study by the county Department of Public Works indicating that it will cost $6.3 million to deal with stormwater runoff. He then stated the figure will be a lot less if Eastsound is designated a LAMIRD, because there would be less density.

Gaylord acknowledged that the county has never done a cost analysis comparing a UGA to a LAMIRD, but he noted that by shrinking the size of Eastsound's UGA, as is now being proposed by the San Juan County Department of Community Development and Planning, the infrastructure costs will also shrink. Moreover, the prosecutor said, if the Eastsound plan is determined by the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board to be in compliance, the county will be eligible to obtain grants and low-interest loans to pay for the upgrades.

Prosecuting attorney says county has already decided Eastsound's designation

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.