Will Koontz bring big changes to Washington state?

For the past several months, I have been spending quite a bit of time on the road, speaking to citizen groups and lawyers about PLF’s landmark victory in Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District. In particular, I have been focusing on the decision’s potential impact on Washington land use law. I conclude that, because Washington state relies so heavily on permit conditions to drive its public environmental policies, Koontz will bring big changes to land use permitting in the state. Most immediately, the decision will require permitting agencies to prove how and why their exactions are warranted—a marked shift from the current anti-property owner status quo.

Here is a video of my recent talk at the Northwest Business Club in Bellingham, Washington.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAcMZUa91Jc&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]