House passes Dunshee law to protect forests and jobs

March 4, 2009

OLYMPIA – A law by Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, to protect jobs and forests has passed the House and is now being considered by the senate.

The bill restricts the ability of developers to plop down large developments in rural areas along rural roads.

“The idea they pitch is these are fully contained communities in the middle of a forest,” Dunshee said. “But that’s not what happens. They aren’t fully contained. Sprawl is inevitable. We can’t kill these off entirely, but this law can keep them from killing farm jobs and forest jobs.”

The legislation – House Bill 1456 – comes after the one fully contained community in the Puget Sound area did not live up to its billing. Another planned development in Snohomish County would occupy 3,000 acres of forest land and a population of up to 15,000 people.
“These are productive lands that sustain jobs,” Dunshee said. “Loggers and farmers lose their livelihood when you level forests and farmlands for more houses and sprawl. This law would help protect those jobs and our land.”

Dunshee’s legislation is now being considered in the Senate.

”Many constituents have contacted me angry about this proposed development near Lake Roesiger,” Dunshee said. “They know this will overload all the country roads and destroy the forests. I agree with them and had to respond.”