Comments on: Legacy lots are getting attention from Kitsap County http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2009/02/26/legacy-lots-are-getting-attention-from-kitsap-county/ Environmental reporter Christopher Dunagan discusses the challenges of protecting Puget Sound and all things water-related. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: cdunagan http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2009/02/26/legacy-lots-are-getting-attention-from-kitsap-county/comment-page-1/#comment-6512 cdunagan Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:06:50 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/?p=1277#comment-6512 I've heard it argued by developers that this problem wouldn't exist if enough lots were being created in urban growth areas. That may be the case, but many lots created before 1937 threaten to change the character of neighborhoods and entire regions of the county. These lots do not have the same legal status as those developed in modern times. Still, issues of equity for property owners must be addressed. There are many ways of dealing with this problem. Some include lot aggregation, some don't. I will try to keep everyone up to speed as the ideas are proposed. County Commissioner Josh Brown made it clear at yesterday's meeting that he wants to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of people in each area where these lots are found. One of many ideas would be to lock down the status quo. For example, if you have a house on 10 of these little lots, you could either aggregate all of them or show how you plan to develop the rest of your property. This might be a good solution for Indianola, which is largely developed, but it wouldn't be much help in Manchester, where there are extensive open areas covered by trees. I’ve heard it argued by developers that this problem wouldn’t exist if enough lots were being created in urban growth areas. That may be the case, but many lots created before 1937 threaten to change the character of neighborhoods and entire regions of the county. These lots do not have the same legal status as those developed in modern times. Still, issues of equity for property owners must be addressed.

There are many ways of dealing with this problem. Some include lot aggregation, some don’t. I will try to keep everyone up to speed as the ideas are proposed.

County Commissioner Josh Brown made it clear at yesterday’s meeting that he wants to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of people in each area where these lots are found.

One of many ideas would be to lock down the status quo. For example, if you have a house on 10 of these little lots, you could either aggregate all of them or show how you plan to develop the rest of your property. This might be a good solution for Indianola, which is largely developed, but it wouldn’t be much help in Manchester, where there are extensive open areas covered by trees.

]]> By: Jackie Miller http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2009/02/26/legacy-lots-are-getting-attention-from-kitsap-county/comment-page-1/#comment-6509 Jackie Miller Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:40:21 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/?p=1277#comment-6509 Chris, Thank you once again for the very informative article-I was very glad to see you yesterday reporting on the Work Study topic-Legacy Lots-2 1/2 years later and here we are finally -The County is stepping up (I hope) and addressing this issue that you so thoughtfully brought to the forefront so long ago...thanks Chris, Jackie Chris,
Thank you once again for the very informative article-I was very glad to see you yesterday reporting on the Work Study topic-Legacy Lots-2 1/2 years later and here we are finally -The County is stepping up (I hope) and addressing this issue that you so thoughtfully brought to the forefront so long ago…thanks Chris,
Jackie

]]> By: Matt Ryan http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2009/02/26/legacy-lots-are-getting-attention-from-kitsap-county/comment-page-1/#comment-6507 Matt Ryan Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:24:19 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/?p=1277#comment-6507 The Growth Management Act was very clear. Identify those areas characterized by urban growth. The DOE folk in Olympia aided by enviro crowd created criteria that excluded most areas outside cities. Those lots just can't go away unless we change the law to force aggregation. The reality is that there has been enough of them developed to create a need and demand for urban services such as storm water and sewage. Interestingly enough those monitoring Puget Sound's health complain about these two contributors. Maybe it's time to rethink those standards. The Growth Management Act was very clear. Identify those areas characterized by urban growth. The DOE folk in Olympia aided by enviro crowd created criteria that excluded most areas outside cities. Those lots just can’t go away unless we change the law to force aggregation. The reality is that there has been enough of them developed to create a need and demand for urban services such as storm water and sewage. Interestingly enough those monitoring Puget Sound’s health complain about these two contributors. Maybe it’s time to rethink those standards.

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