HomeMy WebLinkAbout2961-327
Vince and Joyce Zodiaco
PO Box n
Nordland, WA 98358
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Jefferson County Planning Commission
621 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
January 28, 2009
Re: Shoreline Master Program
Dear Sirs:
We live on Marrowstone Island on a modest waterfront property overlooking Mystery Bay. As
most others we were attracted to this property by the setting and the prospect of waterfront
living. Since purchasing this and the adjacent undeveloped property in 2001 we have been
subject to a series of new regulations which threaten our rights and do little to improve our
lives.
First it was growth management, then watershed planning, then critical areas, then storm water
runoff, and now it is shoreline management. Along with existing health and building codes
these represent overlapping regulatory minefields for the property owner.
As shoreline property owners we are certainly in favor of protection of our waters and shoreline,
but this regulation is unreasonable and over-reaching.
Here are a few of our issues with this regulatory program.
· Imposition of after the fact regulation on parcels that have been platted, improved,
taxed and otherwise prepared for development (water system installation and LUD
assessment) is unfair and may be illegal. It is at least challengeable.
· Requiring a setback of 160 feet from the shoreline for a lot that in our case extends less
than 200 feet from top of bank renders that property unbuildable. The setback of 150
feet and the redundant additional buffer of ten feet are over':'reaching as are the
restrictions on what can be done in the setback area. It is an unconstitutional taking
without compensation.
· Replacement of a damaged or destroyed structure on a developed property that
otherwise conforms to local codes and regulations should not be precluded by the SMP
regulations. This is an even more egregious and heartless taking by an over-intrusive
government.
· We have been paying property taxes on our developed and undeveloped parcels at the
premium rate applied to such property for several years. The county was certainly happy
to cash our checks. Now you are making one property worthless and crippling the other.
Adoption of this regulation would clearly require a change to the county's property
assessment methodology.
Jefferson County Planning Commission
January 28, 2009
Page 2
The county planning commission would do well to send this regulation back to the drawing
board. The county commissioners should think twice about approving such an invasive and
over-reaching regulatory program. Our legislators should strive to bring reason and compassion
to the state's regulatory structure.
At a time when the county needs infrastructure, sewers, decent schools and jobs, our
government gives us endless meetings, paper and regulations. It would be great if the state
and county would do something to address real problems or enforce existing regulations rather
than waste everyone's time to create bigger and more complex regulatory schemes which take
property from tax payers.
This state is over-regulated by several redundant agencies that are competing for our tax
dollars with each attempting to erect an empire of over-lapping regulation. (How many state
employees does it take to change a light bulb?) We the citizens do not want and can ill afford
more economic pain. We earn our money, pay our taxes and have the right to quiet enjoyment
of our property.
Very truly yours,
~it2~diaco
Copy:
Jefferson County Commissioners
Senator James Hargrove
Representative Kevin Van De Wege
Representative Lynn Kessler