1) With growth inevitable, do you distinguish between desirable and undesirable development?Undesirable development is a pattern of residential and commercial growth that doesn’t pay for itself, destroys our rural and resource lands, and degrades our quality of life. It is generally low-density, car dependent, overly expensive, and destroys our rural and resource lands. The cost of roads, police and fire protection, and basic utilities in those areas is astronomical when compared with providing these same services in existing urban areas. Our quality of life, as measured by traffic, environmental quality and recreational opportunities, is continually degraded by our current development patterns. Our job base in agricultural, forestry, and industrial lands are threatened.
Desirable development means that we realign our incentives to make sure that developers will build in existing urban areas so that people can be near jobs and services without carving up more agricultural lands or watersheds. We must utilize our existing urban land supply to provide housing and commercial activity. Efficient and compact development will be more affordable, livable, and conserve resources for future generations.
2) Building a berm to protect the beach and enhance walking, cycling, etc. for residents and visitors is a primary objective of leaders of the Birch Bay community. What would you do to help the community achieve this objective?
I support the community’s objective of a berm, and would be happy to help. I think the most important thing to do, is lay the groundwork for design and permitting, so when the berm becomes a financial reality, the process can be as streamlined as possible.
3) With the goal of increasing infill, would you vote to prevent the fire district from charging mitigation fees for homes and other structures built within the 2031-revised Birch Bay UGA boundaries?
This is a complex topic that is difficult to address in isolation. The Fire District has a capital facilities plan that is currently underfunded for the level of service desired by the people. It would be irresponsible to intervene without having an extensive dialogue with the people of Birch Bay and the fire officials. In general, I support impact fees so that development pays its own way. I agree the incentives are backwards in Whatcom County, with cities charging impact fees and deterring development, while the County has ZERO impact fees which attracts development. This topic could be a central part of any comprehensive countywide review of impact fees.
4) Those who want Birch Bay to become a city are frustrated. Two years ago the county invested $100,000 in a study that found incorporation would be financially feasible. Now with the economic recession, some of the premises of the study may not be valid. Would you favor a select committee of county officials and knowledgeable community representatives being charged with updating the 2008 recommendations?
I will support Birch Bay’s efforts to determine their own future. The county generally does not want to be in the business of providing urban levels of services within densely populated areas. Birch Bay has grown to the point where it would be a viable option to incorporate. I think we absolutely need to revisit some of the underlying assumptions and data of the study, and confirm or reject the initial conclusions. The people of Birch Bay have worked very long and hard on their plan, and we need to honor their efforts by seriously considering it, but ultimately allowing them people to decide for themselves.
According to the voter pamphlet, Ken Mann is a member and past chairman of the Whatcom County Planning Commission. He earned a degree in political science from Tulane University and in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He is owner of Caspian Management Corporation that has renovated and managed older commercial and residential buildings since 2004.
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Comments are not only encouraged, but are sought.
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