HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.Audette, A. 5-11_SMP Update
Michelle McConnell
From:Al Audette [al.audette@yahoo.com]
Sent:Tuesday, May 11, 2010 4:41 PM
To:Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY)
Subject:SMP Update
Categories:LASMP Public Comment
Mr. Stewart,
I recently returned from a extended winter vacation to find that once again the state ecology department is
attempting to limit the use of my property. I own freshwater waterfront and have for over 30 years. According
to the auditor my property is worth more and deserves to be taxed at a higher rate due to my proximity to
freshwater. However, with the proposed updates my property will drop in "real value" but remain taxed as a
"valuable piece of waterfront."
My property and others nearby are only 150 feet deep. With your proposals I could build on the county road in
front of my property, but not on my property! No one is going to want to buy a piece of waterfront they cannot
use. No one is going to buy a piece of property they cannot build on because the property is within the
proposed 150" buffer. This property is my nest egg. Your overly restrictive proposals will vertually wipe that
out.
Why not teach people to ecologically manage waterfront instead of always proposing these knee-jerk ideas that
affect the lives of people that have worked their entire lives to own something of value; only to see it disappear
in the stroke of a pen; probably the pen of someone who wishes they had waterfront!
Further, why not teach people how to trim the canopy, remove trees and limbs responsibly. We love the eagles,
squirrels, and other woodland creatures with which we share our home. We would not do intentional harm to
sensible guidelines
them. I believe others who enjoy special property feel the same way. We would abide by
outlined by the ecology department for responsible trimming etc., but these proposed are excessive and
unneccesary. They are so over the top that people are losing the right to enjoy something they have bought and
paid for!
A couple of questions: will county and state owned properties, ie. parks, have to abide by these same rules?
Will their shoreline/beach access be lost? Will they lose the use of their properties? Somehow I doubt it.
Many of the trees that we trim are done so that our lives are protected as we live in an area of dangerous foothill
winds. Insurance companies will not pay for damages done by trees that were not properly maintained, as some
of my neighbors discovered. I suppose if we call your office a person would come right out and determine if
the trees could be trimmed. I suppose there would be no delays or long expensive permitting processes that
discourage people from doing the right thing.
As usual, fair, sensible, and responsible minds have disappeared. The only minds left are those looking for
power and have no regard for property owners.
Thank you.
Al Audette
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