Today's Herald Editorial pontificates on the recent King Mtn annexation by the City of Bellingham. ( http://www.bellinghamherald.com/315/story/489963.html ) They do so with no credibility.

Once again, Editor Scott Ayers and Publisher Glen Nardi show their ignorance about growth management principals and something called the law.

Bellingham’s existing Comprehensive Plan and its Urban Growth Area (UGA) was legally adopted by the Bellingham City Council and upheld (that means “approved”, Scott and Glen) by the State staff and the State Growth Management Hearings Board. The Plan sets specific requirements for City in-fill AND some peripheral (that means “next to”, Scott and Glen) annexation with coordinated land use and utility planning to meet population increases, all in compliance with State LAW.

The City adopted its policy and Plan after 6 years of intensive professional analysis by all of the City senior managers, Department Heads, several consultants, and thousands of hours of comment and debate by activists, neighborhood reps, the Planning Commission. The City Council weighed all these facts before adopting the Plan. It is the current law.

Of course, Scott and Glen are unaware of these facts. When asked if they had read any of the background data and alternatives published in the Environmental Impact Statement documenting the need for the Plan, both Scott and Glen said they did not. When asked by a Bellingham Planning Commissioner if he had read the existing Comprehensive Plan, Scott replied that he had not read it. When asked at a public meeting of the Northwest Business Club if he had read the Comprehensive Plan, Glen admitted he had not read it.

Today Scott and Glen claim growth planning isn’t working. Gentlemen, if neither of you know how it is supposed to work in the first place, how can you make such a judgment?

---

It's a beautiful day in the Neighborhood,
Mr. Neighbor