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County development roadblocks lifted |
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Wednesday, 02 April 2008 |
BY KIM FRLAN
S-E Staff Reporter
For the first time since 2001, Stevens County has no roadblocks to development. The Growth Management Hearings Board met in Spokane on March 19 and validated all the county’s urban growth areas.
“All urban growth areas are now fully functioning and valid,” said Stevens County Land Services Director Clay White. “We can process development applications in those areas for higher-density residential, commercial and industrial development.”
White said the validation came as a result of some diligent work on the part of the county planning department to rectify problems with the comprehensive plan. They met with planning boards in Lake Spokane, Clayton, Hunters, Addy, Valley, Marcus, Kettle Falls, Colville and Chewelah to determine exactly how much land would be needed for urban development based on current population growth projections.
“We did the work they asked us to do, and the Hearings Board recognized that it’s been done,” White said. “Now we can locate businesses and industry to make growth happen. Now we’re back to helping people develop their property. We’re back to doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”
The County Planning Department has been processing short plats in rural areas since September, when the subdivision moratorium was lifted.
“We’ve had a steady stream of applications,” White said. “Now we can begin processing applications in Urban Growth Areas, too.”
The land services director said he expects to see applications for a supermarket, retail space, and higher-density housing in the Lake Spokane area very soon.
“We’re going to grow by about 1000 people per year over the next 20 years,” White projected. “The southern portion of the county will see the most growth.
“Government often gets blamed for bogging down the process, but here it’s not the case. We’re implementing programs to help people get through the permitting process faster. Some permits you can get the same day you apply.”
The County Land Services Department now has a website with detailed information on the permitting process. By following the instructions provided online, applicants can complete an application properly and receive their permit quickly.
“If they do things right, we can be of better assistance,” White said. “We won’t have to send out letters that their application is incomplete. That bogs down the process.”
To access information from the Stevens County Land Services Department, go to the website at www.co.stevens.wa.us/landservices/index.php.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 April 2008 )
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