"Case could get land-use laws back on the ballot"

By JENNIFER LANGSTON SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

"Sparked by a fierce property-rights battle in King County, the Washington Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday on whether residents ought to be able to overturn controversial land-use laws by a popular vote. Local governments say that would paralyze their ability to carry out state growth-management laws, which force cities and counties to make balanced, difficult choices that some residents won't necessarily like. Attorneys for property-rights advocate Rodney McFarland argued that the Legislature didn't intend for all development regulations to be immune from a referendum -- a basic right afforded to citizens by the state constitution."