Developers get a free ride here with no impact fees and a development agenda that prioritizes density over the other dimensions of that produce a quality urban experience. Therefore we are experiencing a decrease in tree canopy, decreasing permeable surfaces (yielding more polluted storm water run-off into the Puget Sound), increasing road congestion (yielding air quality impacts, complicating a desire for more biking), and an inability to support our crumbling infrastructure or keep our parks and libraries open.

In the same way the that the countryside is despoiled by uncontrolled growth, the urban fabric can be destroyed as well. Our vision of walkable, complete communities is still out of reach.

The fallacy of Vision 2040 is that by packing growth into the two major cities – Seattle and Bellevue – is that somehow we are going to save the hinterlands. But development patterns belie that myth. More importantly, the continued growth of the downtown Seattle – where 60% of the workers come from outside of the city – requires more massive investments in the freeways and light rail to move these people from the outlying areas to the office towers. I suspect conditions are similar for Bellevue.

We need to recognize that balanced development – looking to towns like Federal Way, Issaquah, Kirkland, Renton, Bothell, etc, etc to accept growth. With new-urbanism constructs these all can become vibrant cities and not just be bedroom communities for the two queens. These will be the ecodistricts of the future and provide the best opportunity to help solve our growth and financial problems at the same time.