Is Board jurisdiction limited to counties and cities planning under the GMA?
It is unclear from the language in RCW 36.70A.2503 whether the Boards have jurisdiction over GMA-related plans and regulations in all counties or only over those that are “required to choose to plan.” The Eastern Washington Board, in Moore v. Whitman County (1995), assumed jurisdiction of a critical areas challenge although Whitman County is not engaged in Full GMA Planning. (2) Are GMA requirements enforced equally on each jurisdiction regardless of size, population, and other factors? As Appendix A indicates, there is great diversity in population (also in land area and growth rates) in counties and cities planning under GMA. Since the Boards review and find compliance only for those plans that are challenged, GMA requirements tend to be enforced only on those jurisdictions whose action (or inaction) is challenged. The Legislature created three boards so that the geographic diversity of the state could be reflected. Although the statute does not direct the Boards to consider the diff
