A bi-partisan group of Washington state senators is sponsoring a bill that they hope will strengthen the state’s position in the upcoming base realignment and closure decision.
Senate Bill 6401 would create two new sections in the state growth management laws to protect military installations from encroachment or incompatible development of surrounding land.
The addition is almost a moot point for Whidbey Island, which has stringent rules regarding growth around Whidbey Island Naval Air Station installations.
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen co-sponsored the bill, but said Whidbey Island already shows strong support for the military in its land use laws.
“Whidbey Island has been extremely good at recognizing the importance of military installations,” she said.
Other military bases, such as Fort Lewis in Tacoma, have much greater problems with encroachment from the pressure of growth in the surrounding area, she said.
Island County Commissioner Mac McDowell said Island County’s comprehensive plan sends a strong statement.
In 1998 zoning around NAS Whidbey’s Ault Field and Outlying Field was changed to one house per five acres. In some areas it is one house per 10 acres.
“We were mindful of the base, and didn’t want to make it worse,” McDowell said. “We’ve been very conscientious about development around the base.”
Base Realignment and Closure criteria released earlier this month by the Department of Defense does not use the word “encroachment” specifically, but the issue is addressed both under “military value” and “other considerations.”
Military value criteria number two cites the “availability and condition of land, facilities and associated airspace,” while number 7 under other considerations notes “the ability of both the existing and potential receiving communities’ infrastructure to support forces, missions and personnel.”
McDowell also felt Island County and Whidbey Naval installations would fare well in the upcoming BRAC.
“Encroachment is going to be one of our strong points,” he said. “This bill sends a clear message to the Pentagon that Washington state is concerned about encroachment and supports the military.”
