Drafter
Clerk 07/08/2005
Title
A MOTION relating to the Vashon/Maury Island Rural Stewardship Plan pilot program; requesting a report from the executive outlining the program and possible expansion throughout the rural area, and stating council support for continuation and expansion of the pilot program.
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 15051 established "rural stewardship plans" as a mechanism for tailoring environmental protections to local conditions and landowner goals, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 15051 directed the executive to provide low- or no-cost technical assistance and resources to landowners to assist in preparing rural stewardship plans, and
WHEREAS, Motion 12037 stated the council's intent to provide technical assistance and staffing in support of flexible alternatives to "one-size-fits all" environmental protections, and
WHEREAS, the department of development and environmental services ("DDES") and the water and land resource division of the department of natural resources and parks ("WLRD") recently implemented a six-week rural stewardship plan pilot program on Vashon/Maury Island, and
WHEREAS, DDES and WLRD created a team approach to provide information regarding permitting and rural stewardship planning to rural residents, and
WHEREAS, once a week, DDES and WLRD staff have met with landowners on Vashon/Maury Island, and
WHEREAS, the responses of the rural residents to such convenient and easy access to the pilot program staff has been very positive, and
WHEREAS, the Vashon/Maury Island pilot program has demonstrated that this approach provides a valuable service to rural residents by enabling them to obtain information regarding permit application requirements and information regarding rural stewardship plans in a convenient location, and
WHEREAS, the increased interaction between the rural residents and DDES and WLRD staff have served to increase the mutual understanding of the provisions of the rural stewardship plan program and th...

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