Ordinance 2978-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

EVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN building design plan, a development plan, subarea plans, and conservation and solar energy plans. II. Four "Guiding Forces" for the Comprehensive Plan The following summarizes the body of adopted legislation or accepted strategies providing guidance for the way Everett should grow in the future. A. Growth Management Act The Growth Management Act was adopted by the State Legislature in 1990 in the wake of tremendous economic and population growth in the Puget Sound region during the latter part of the 1980's. The goals in the GMA, which are not listed in order of priority, are: • Urban growth. Encourage development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner. • Reduce sprawl. Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped lands into sprawling, low-density development. • Transportation. Encourage efficient multimodal transportation systems that are based on regional priorities and coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans. • Housing. Encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of the population of this state, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage preservation of existing housing stock • Economic Development. Encourage economic development throughout the state that is consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all citizens of this state, especially for unemployed and for disadvantaged persons, promote the retention and expansion of existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses, recognize regional differences impacting economic development opportunities, and encourage growth in areas experiencing insufficient economic growth, all within the capacities of the state's natural resources, public services, and public facilities. • Property Rights. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been made. The property rights of the landowners shall be protected from arbitrary and discriminatory actions. • Permits. Applications for both state and local government permits should be processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability. • Natural Resource Industries. Maintain and enhance natural resource-based industries, including productive timber, agricultural, and fisheries industries. Encourage the conservation of productive forest lands and productive agricultural lands, and discourage incompatible uses. • Open Space and Recreation. Retain open space, enhance recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks and recreation facilities. • Environment. Protect the environment and enhance the state's high quality of life, including air and water quality, and the availability of water. • Citizen Participation and Coordination. Encourage the involvement of citizens in the planning process and ensure coordination between communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts. INTRODUCTION 2