Ferry Gets Extension For Growth Plan Lawyer Reviews Revised Plan To Limit Growth

Sat., Nov. 8, 1997

By John Craig johnc@spokesman.com

Ferry County has a new deadline for complying with the state Growth Management Act and a plan to get the job done.

Prosecutor Al Nielson said a consulting attorney is putting finishing touches on a revised plan for limiting growth in rural areas.

“It’s an accommodation to our lifestyle, but it’s still moving into compliance with the GMA,” Nielson said.

The county will find out early next year whether the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board agrees. If it doesn’t, Gov. Gary Locke could withhold much of the state tax money the county receives.

The growth board set a new schedule this week for the county to come into compliance, setting aside the Nov. 20 deadline it imposed in August. Board members said the county had not complied with the core requirement to prevent urban development in rural areas.

County commissioners said they didn’t know at that time that new legislation allows more development than was previously permitted in small rural communities.

Nielson said commissioners now plan to designate “rural service areas” that will allow cottage industries and other light industries in unincorporated hamlets such as Curlew or Pine Grove. He said some development also would be allowed outside the rural service areas, but with more restrictions.

An agreement among the county, the growth board and a group called Concerned Friends of Ferry County calls for commissioners to conduct a public hearing on their proposed plan by Dec. 15 and to adopt a plan by Dec. 22.

Then Concerned Friends, which successfully challenged the county’s previous lack of action, and commissioners have until Feb. 13 to present written arguments about the plan to the growth board.

, DataTimes

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