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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM081595 ~ j -~~ --- -- -...- '\ , r ~--/-' " ~" : ,,'+ . a ", ~ ,,1- ~ fA' r-... ' " il i!,;l\; (!~ ,~ JJ~~\ "It J; ,}... -iii, " it1 lio' '~"l!!~ ~"I . '- ':,/" ,." ,j ~- {Y..' . _:7 c.,. ]/ ~ ""l~t'~:;:,t ~", ~,,' . f'~ ,~I ~"~'~-''e,,,.;l:: "~k~'~1 ' ,,,~ ~~~ ~ li.~ ~ ~~~~~.~ -~.--- JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MINUTES AUGUST 15, 1995 Jefferson County Board of Equalization TELEPHONE: 385.9100 COURTHOUSE P.O. BOX 1220 PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON 98368 William S. Marlow Richard A. Broders James A. DeLeo Chairman Vice-Chairman Member Chairman William S. Marlow called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Member James A. DeLeo was present. Vice-Chairman Richard A. Broders arrived shortly after the meeting began. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member DeLeo moved to approve the minutes of July 14, 1995 as presented. Chairman Marlow seconded the motion. The motion passed. HEARING WAIVERS Chairman Marlow read the petition withdrawals and assessment corrections into the record that were received from the following Petitioners: Victor & Diana Koenig Andrew P. Dillon James & Norma Hill Jay Richardson SEAFIRST BANK " " " Bill & Nola Bell BOE 95-0l-LO BOE 95-02-R BOE 95-04-R BOE 95-l0-LO BOE 95-28-LO BOE 95-29-C BOE 95-30-C BOE 95-31-C BOE 95-37-R PN: 940800002 PN: 937800 119 PN: 001195 117 PN: 601 324009 PN: 901 024047 PN: 901 024035 PN: 989 704 206 PN: 989704203 PN: 011 282020 Member DeLeo moved to accept the petition withdrawals and the assessment corrections that were received. Chairman Marlow seconded the motion. The motion passed. .. \.1 100% Recycled Paper BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 15, 1995 Page 2 HEARINGS Lawrence McCoy 8922 Jewel Terrace Anchorage, AK 99502 BOE: 95-03-LO PN: 936904504 Lawrence McCoy was not present. The Assessor's office representative, Will Butterfield, was sworn in by Chairman Marlow, Mr. Butterfield stated the assessed value of this parcel is $3,000 and Mr. McCoy believes that the property is worthless since it is only 12 feet wide and is just a recorded easement for access to another parcel. While the Assessor's office agrees that the property is over valued they do not agree that the property is worthless, Mr. Butterfield stated the Assessor's office is willing to lower the value to the purchase price of $500, but he has been unable to reach Mr. McCoy over the last two weeks to find out if this is acceptable to him, Mr. Butterfield will try again to contact the appellant regarding the offer. If successful and Mr. McCoy agrees to the lower value, he will contact the Board prior to their decision on this matter Michael and Elvan Habicht 41 Molenda Lane Port Townsend, W A 98368 BOE: 95-Il-R PN: 947400067 Michael and Elvan Habicht were present. Robert Kingsley was present on behalf of the Assessor's office. Chairman Marlow explained the hearing process and swore them in, Mr. Habicht stated that since the property was assessed, changes have occurred which he feels devalue the property. The neighbors have built a 60' long corrugated metal industrial building which blocks their view, and it is believed that the neighbors are planning to operate a sheet metal business out of the building. The Habicht's stated they would not have purchased the property if the building had been there. They feel it is an eye sore and would affect any sale of their property, A photograph was then presented as evidence for the Board to reVIew, Robert Kingsley stated this situation is subject to opinion, While one individual may think the building is a detracting factor, another may not. There have been no sales in the area that indicate the presence of the building has reduced the value of the Habicht's property, The property is currently assessed at $142,795 and the Habicht's are requesting it be reduced to $114,235. Mr. Kingsley doesn't believe the building significantly impacts the property enough to constitute the amount of reduction they are asking for. After hearing the testimony of both parties the Board concurred that they would conduct an inspection of the property and make a detennination at a later date BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 15, 1995 Page 3 Jack and Mildred Molenda 317 S.W. 177th Street Seattle, WA 98166 BOE: 95-13-LO 95-14-R PN: 947400065 947 400 066 Jack and Mildred Molenda were present. Robert Kingsley was present on behalf of the Assessor's office, Chairman Marlow explained the hearing process and swore them in. Ms. Molenda stated they would never have built their home where it is if they had known that a neighbor was going to build a 30' by 60' metal building on the lot directly above theirs, She added that this type of building doesn't belong in an area of view property and consequently has reduced the value of their property, If they decide to sell the property, she is certain it will be difficult because of the commercial building in their view, When the neighbors first began constructing the building they informed the Molenda's that they were constructing a three car garage and shop, This would have been fine if it had been compatible with the neighborhood, not the commercial building that was built. Further discussions with the neighbors lead the Molenda's to believe that they are planning to operate a sheet metal business out of the building, The Molenda's and other neighbors tried to stop the construction but were unsuccessfuL Robert Kingsley stated he visited the site and took a photograph of the building from the Molenda's front porch which he presented to the Board for review, The Molenda's property is considered view property over looking Discovery Bay, The metal building is viewed from the opposite side of the property, He feels that a perspective buyer would be enamored with the view of the water and that the metal building would not have an impact on a potential sale The Molenda's are requesting the value be reduced from $146,620 to $117,000 for one parcel, and $24,000 to $19, 000 for another. Mr. Kingsley believes there is no evidence that supports a reduction in value for the amount the Molenda's are asking for. After hearing the testimony of both parties the Board concurred to conduct an inspection of the property and make a determination at a later date, Robert Chuck and Judy Hawks 3623 Longview Valley Road Sherman Oak, CA 91423 BOE: 95-15-R PN: 965500001 Robert Chuck and Judy Hawks were not present. Assessor Jack Westerman was sworn in by Chairman Marlow, Mr. Westerman presented the Board with an area map of the subject property and a letter the Assessor's office sent to the appellant. The letter reported that the property is located on Kala Heights in Kala Point and is currently assessed at $192.560, Mr. Chuck and Ms, Hawks are requesting the property value be reduced to $170,000 due to a decline in the real estate market. The Assessor's office does not agree that the market is declining with regard to the townhouses in Kala Point. There have been three bluff townhouse unit resales in 1995. All of which sold for more than the current assessed value which is based on the market value as of January I, 1992, He is not convinced that the townhouses have gone down in value, The assessment may be somewhat high, but the best indicator of value for the appellants property is their purchase price of$183,OOO in 1993, Since Jefferson County is on BOARD OF EQUALIZA TION MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 15, 1995 Page 4 a four year evaluation cycle, adjustments in value are not made every year a sale takes place, If the Board makes an adjustment to the appellants property the Assessor's office recommends they also make an adjustment to the adjacent unit for the purpose of equity. Mr. Westerman then read the Assessor's office recommended value reductions. After reviewing the information submitted by the appellant the hearing the testimony of the Assessor the Board concurred to conduct an inspection of the property and make a determination at a later date. Herbert and Anna Westfall 9312 S.E. Shoreland Drive Bellevue, W A 98004 BOE: 95-05-R PN: 602242012 Herbert Westfall was present. Bob Shold was present on behalf of the Assessor's office, Chairman Marlow explained the hearing process and swore them in, Mr. Westfall stated that most of his concerns are stated in his petition, however, he added that due to the configuration of his property he doesn't believe that there is 300 feet oflow bank waterfront, which as he understands, was the primary basis for the valuation, Another point included in the petition, which may be premature, but nevertheless affects the property value, is the indian rights court case Mr. Marlow agreed that at some point in the future that may be a determining factor, however, it has no bearing on this appeal since the Board is only concerned with contributing factors as of the date the property was assessed. Mr. Westfall stated he realizes that is a small issue at this time, Aside from that, his property value was increased by approximately 25% from the last assessment. He feels the value is too high since the real estate market has been flat. Bob Shold presented a worksheet and a location map of the appellants property and stated that the actual water frontage is more than 300 feet due to the curve of the property. The method of the Assessor's office is to square off the curve and calculate only the perpendicular distance from one corner of the parcel to the other. Of the 300 feet there is 100 feet that the appellant feels is not low bank and should not be value as such, If the Assessor's office had valued the property according to 200 feet oflow bank and 100 feet of medium bank the rates would have been different. Mr. Shold is not certain that there is 300 feet oflow bank and stated the Board may want to look at that when they visit the property, He added that there has only been one sale near Mr. Westfall's property. While it may not be comparable since the house is older and there is less property and less waterfront, it did sell for $300,000 in 1993, Mr, Westfall's property is assessed at $368,275, Discussion ensued regarding water availability and the Assessor's methods used to calculate value for tidelands and the height of banks, After hearing the testimony of both parties the Board concurred to conduct an inspection of the property and make a determination at a later date, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 15, 1995 Page 5 Eiichi Yamashita 902 E. Allison Street Seattle, WA 98102 BOE: 95-12-LO PN: 601282001 Eiichi Yamashita was present. Will Butterfield was present on behalf of the Assessor's office. Chairman Marlow explained the hearing process and swore them in, Mr. Yamashita stated he has owned this property since 1947 and has never been able to develop it due to lack of access, He is in the business of oyster farming and would like to put in a road to access the tidelands but is unable to because his property is landlocked and the adjacent property owners will not grant an easement. Since he is unable to utilize his land for any purpose he feels it has very little value, He currently conducts aquaculture an business with the use of floats, thereby utilizing the tidelands through access by water. Access by land would ease the process immensely by allowing him to establish a base to store equipment and supplies for the business. Mr. Butterfield stated the Assessor's office sympathizes with Mr. Yamashita and have tried to reflect a fair amount of reduction by lowering the property value by 80% due to excess front footage, the access problem, high bluff and ravines. High bank waterfront property around the Coyle peninsula has typically been valued at $350 per front foot. Mr. Yamashita's property is valued at approximately $70 per front foot. There are extreme limitations on this property, but it is difficult to determine to what degree they affect the value. Any nlrther reduction in value would need to be determined by the Board. After further discussion the Board concurred to conduct an inspection of the property and make a determination at a later date. Chairman Marlow adjourned the meeting until August 16, 1995 at 9:30 a,m, Attest: C . . 'LGlI\... "- Erin K. Lundgren, JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION }.-~ Richard A. r ders, Vice-Chairman ~ ,~ &~ es A. DeLeo, Member