VCC Land Use & Natural Resources Committee Meeting - Nov 17, 1999

Land Use Committee attendees: Ray (Vic) Bottemly, John Gerstle, Joel 
Kuperberg, Gardner Perry, Lorin Reinelt, Carol Salkind, Mark Salkind, Mike 
Trocha, and AnnWoodward
Other Attendees: Robert Blomgren, Mary Davis-King County DDES, and Larry 
Yeakel

Proposed Zoning Code Amendment
Mary Davis from King County’s Dept of Development and Environmental Services 
(DDES) briefed the committee on the proposed rezoning for Fall City. She 
noted that Fall City, Vashon and Summit are the only rural towns in KC. In 
response to no/slow growth sentiment this proposal would eliminate the 
minimum density requirement. The plan would only impact R-4 zoning. Larry 
asked Mary if she could provide pros and cons on the impact to Vashon. 
Insofar as the Vashon Town Plan intent was to maxmize density and has up to 
R-18 zoning, and the Community has voted to oppose changing the Town Plan 
recently, the Committee decided to refer this proposal to the principal 
writers of the Plan, Emma Emiad, Keith Putnam and David Vogel for advice. 
Action: John will provide the infomation from Mary Davis to Emiad, Putnam and 
Vogel. 
 Mary agreed to provide pros and cons.

Impact of I-695
Gardner reported that at the Citizens Initiative Meeting it was said that 
there would be very little impact from I-695 on King County’s Roads 
Department, but Public Health will be forced to significantly raise well 
inspection and other fees. 

King County Executive Rural Drainage and Water Quality Proposal

At the request of Susan Oxholm KC-DNR, the Committee discussed whether or not 
to endorse the Vashon-specific components of the Rural Drainage and Water 
Quality Proposal (RDWQP) which will be voted on by the KC Council next week. 
Vic cautioned that Washington statutes may not allow spending surface water 
funding for ground water work. Joel commented that the RDWQP fell short of 
what was needed for our rural island. John said that a uniform fee regardless 
of home size or impervious area is bad tax policy and does not tax at all 
property owners with no residences who by clear-cutting or removing 
vegetation from steep slopes cause drainage problems. Gardner commented that 
the fee could be made more equitable by basing it on assessed value. Lorin 
commented that fees based on assessed values are used in flood control 
districts.Vic said that the largest percent of fee revenues would go to KC 
overhead and administrative costs. Anne said that she didn’t think this 
proposal would have much support in the community and a motion of support 
would not pass. Lorin said that the RDWQP should address ground water more. 
Mark said he was not confident that, in light of Vashon’s unique problems, 
the fee revenues would flow back to the Island. Carol said that the Proposal 
was not specifc enough for Vashon and she was not convinced it would work out 
well for the Island. Several people commented that a special surface and 
ground water district on Vashon could be created for which KC could collect 
fees and then disperse them to the district. Joel suggested that we pursue 
enabling legislation for such a district 

To respond to the County, the committee voted unanimously to agree with the 
statement that “The Vashon Land Use and Natural Resources Committee believes 
that Vashon’s ground and surface water problems need to be addressed but the 
Committee cannot support the King County Executive Rural Drainage and Water 
Quality Proposal as adequately meeting our needs.” [This statement was 
subsequently sent to Councilman Nickels noting that this was the Committee’s 
opinion and not the vote of the VMICC. ]

Lorin recommended that before the Committee takes any action, we should wait 
to see what the KC Council does with the RDWQP.

Next Land Use Committtee Meeting January 19, 2000 7:30 pm Chatauqua School 
Multipurpose Room