Site Logo

Growth areas stir debates in Clallam County

Published 5:06 am Saturday, March 15, 2008

By Jim Casey, Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES — It will be six more weeks until Clallam County learns if it must draw new boundaries around many of its commercial areas.

At issue are urban growth areas, which are lands adjacent to cities where businesses may locate, and Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development — abbreviated to LAMIRDs but pronounced lam-rids — that basically are business reserves at out-of-the way crossroads.

Both types of development are part of the state’s Growth Management Act. It attempts to prevent urban sprawl by limiting housing and commerce to certain areas.

The questions of where and how large those areas should be are the bones of contention between the county and two groups of citizens:

  • The Dry Creek Coalition objects to a LAMIRD at Laird’s Corner near the junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112.

    The coalition fought siting the Port Angeles Hardwood mill near Fairchild International Airport in 2004. The mill eventually was built at the Eclipse Industrial Park.

  • Futurewise, a nonprofit Seattle-based group once called 1,000 Friends of Washington, objects to 29 LAMIRDs — including Laird’s Corner — and challenges UGAs and dwelling densities throughout the county.

    • You Might Like