[Capr-announce] Meeting on 1, 950 square feet farm home size restriction

[MLMcFadden]

I was not able to get to that meeting - but for whoever did, what possible
justification did the county give for even having this regulation?  

 

A regulation has to serve some public purpose, and be reasonably related to
the problem it purports to solve.   For the life of me I can't figure out
what the size of the house has to do with the productivity of the APD, esp.
since the code already contains impervious surface limits, and the CAO
protects critical areas.

 

FWIW

 

Michele McFadden  

 

 

 

  _____  

From: capr-announce-bounces+mlmcfadden=centurytel.net at lists.celestial.com
[mailto:capr-announce-bounces+mlmcfadden=centurytel.net at lists.celestial.com]
On Behalf Of Andrew Newell
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 6:07 PM
To: robert vos; CAPR-Announce
Subject: Re: [Capr-announce] Meeting on 1, 950 square feet farm home size
restriction

 

FYI: I posted a copy of this to SoundPolitics.com on the public blog. I'll
be calling our local radio hosts and perhaps sharing with them as well. 
 
I may have got my butt kicked on the CAO's but this really hacks me off.
This will completely murder the resale of your property. 
 
MSRedneck-AKA Andy
 
PS: An MS manager that does live on a working farm with an under median home
size. Does anyone have the original copy from Jeff that you could forward to
me?


Thanks, 
Andy

  _____  

Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:19:20 -0700
From: ramvos at yahoo.com
To: capr-announce at lists.celestial.com
Subject: [Capr-announce] Meeting on 1, 950 square feet farm home size
restriction

 

More on the Alert!  County confines farmers to small houses!

 

 

What:  Agricultural Commission public comment meeting

When:  This Thursday, June 14, at 4:00 p.m.

            Where:  Issaquah fish hatchery, meeting room south of hatchery
building

 

Thanks to Jeff for alerting the CAPR distribution to this crucial meeting.
As an Ag Commissioner and CAPR member, it is not appropriate for me to speak
on behalf of the Commission.  But as a King County citizen and farmer, I
will share these thoughts with you.

 

This is a must-attend meeting, to have your voice heard.  You can make a
difference!

 

The proposed Farmland Preservation Program covenants restrict our farm home
sizes to about 1,950 square feet (the current median size on Ag lands).
Thus 50% of farmers could not build their desired home size.  This is not
about preventing Microsoft managers from building 20,000 square-foot
mansions.  It is about the right of a hard working farmer and family to
build a home!

 

Have no doubt, if this restriction passes, the next step in the County
Council will be to further downzone our farm areas, restricting home sizes
without any compensation whatever.  This is an attempt to make a farmer's
home look like what they think it should.  It discriminates against one
specific group of people - farmers.  It tries to control the farmer's
lifestyle, and drastically decreases the resale value of his/her property.

 

Where will it end?  When real farmers are driven out of King County, and
replaced with people having no interest in farming, looking for subsidized
low-cost housing with a pleasant rural view?

 

The stated mission of the Ag Commission is to advise the Council on matters
relating to King County agriculture.  Several Commissioners have raised
concerns about the home size restriction condition.  But those concerns have
been ignored by county employees, and we Commissioners are now apparently
being asked to "ratify" these covenants on Thursday with no ability to make
changes.  The county government is not serving the people.  This is a power
play, and it is wrong!

 

You might want to ask the county staff, Council and Executive if they are
willing to confine their working space to the median office size in King
County.  Or perhaps restrict their salaries to the median value in the
county.  This would be a help in making county government, and our taxes,
more "affordable"!

 

Whatever your viewpoint, I ask that you attend this public meeting, observe,
and make your opinions known.  Later will be too late to preserve your
freedom, way of life, and property values!

 

And I would be happy to talk more with you about details and other Ag
issues.

 

                                                                        Bob
Vos

                                                                        Ag
Commissioner

 
360.825.6660

  _____  

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