Not Just Seattle Faces Task of Curbing Growth

SEATTLE isn't the only city in Washington State that must comply with the state's Growth Management Act. Cities and counties that are densely populated or growing fast must enact plans this year to comply with the 1990 act.

While many parts of Washington will be unaffected, battles are raging in some counties small and large, according to University of Washington political scientist David Olson.

Unlike the older term ``land-use planning,'' growth management tries to take a broad approach to development.

The new law, for example, discourages sprawling development, encourages efficient transportation, protects the environment and open spaces, involves citizens in planning, and ensures that local governments deliver utility services as needed.

Other states that enacted growth-management laws in the 1980s include Florida, Georgia, Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.