<div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Update on the Farm Home Size Restriction – Ag Commission Public Meeting<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Thanks to all CAPR supporters who responded with research and/or attended the June 14 public meeting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There were about 20 of you present, and almost half that number spoke.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The Ag Commissioners had been told we needed to “ratify” the proposed FPP (Farmland Preservation Program) covenants at the meeting, even though several of us had expressed concerns about the home size restriction.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two “alternatives” had been prepared for us to vote on, both of them nearly identical in restricting home size to about 1950 square feet.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After the visibility resulting from CAPR emails and phone calls, county folks received considerable feedback.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The agenda was then changed to discuss “if” we approve a size restriction, and it dropped the plan to take a vote at this meeting. </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>This issue had obviously struck a nerve and there were a wide range of interesting public comments. They ranged from “leave us farmers alone!” to “this is not consistent with the mission of the Ag Commission” to “if you do this I will work to cut off your funding and make your life a living hell!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The only comments in favor of limiting farm home sizes were from two ladies representing a farm trust organization, and even one of them said she thought the proposed 1950 square foot number was overly restrictive.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Quite a number of county employees attended the meeting as well.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Council member Kathy Lambert was present to discuss farm flooding
issues, and she ended her presentation by saying that “this proposed farm home size restriction makes no sense to me whatsoever.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ron Sims staff Karen Wolfe also attended the meeting, but did not comment.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>A final result remains to be determined, but there now seems to be willingness by county staff to discuss the issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also there are further questions being asked by other officials in the county who apparently were unaware of the proposed size restriction.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>One
thing I found interesting was the argument by some proponents that this size restriction is “voluntary” and only applies to those who choose to sign up for FPP.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I suppose by the same logic, all <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>King</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> regulations are “voluntary” because they only apply to people who choose to live here!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Love it or leave it”!?</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>There is also evidence of a coordinated agenda to use these Ag Commission FPP covenants next year as a political tool to justify mandatory home size restrictions through new zoning regulations.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An April 10 Council motion (2007-0153.3) sponsored by Larry Phillips defines the “2008 King County Comprehensive Plan Update Work Program.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In Attachment A, Chapter 3, it says the Council is to “Examine the issue of limiting the size of houses on agricultural lands.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A CAPR member, who emailed Executive assistant Paul Reitenbach on this, received the following response.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>“This is an issue raised by the King County Agricultural Commission.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am not sure we will propose to do this, but we will at least look at the possibility of doing this as we develop the 2008 update of the King County
Comprehensive plan.”</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Voluntary?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stay tuned, and continue to express your thoughts!</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Bob Vos</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Ag Commissioner and CAPR member</FONT></div><p> 
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