Battle with a Steamroller – for Spanaway Lake

SPANAWAY, WA — The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) came up with new shoreline regulations and has charged counties and cities to implement the new guideline. Although Pierce County was dragging its governmental feet in doing so, the DOE rattled their cage this past year with reminders of the state benefits that could be taken away if they fail to comply with the implementation. Shoreline Master Progam link.

That said, the new regulations are not sitting well with shoreline owners in unincorporated Pierce County. Resident living around Lake Tapps and Gig Harbor have already turned out for hearings. Thursday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m. there is a hearing at Pacific Lutheran University’s Scandinavian Cultural Center. That hearing is in the student union building downstairs.

Over the past couple months, property owners on the lake have been trying to become informed. They have met with councilman Jim McCune and each other to share the awareness of the new rules. They have had invited guests from the County Planning Department. The Post interviewed Debra Hyde who was charged with creating the new regulations.

This evening, March 19^th, the citizens gathered one last time to share their preparations and testimonies for Thursday. Comments included the following:

There was intentional lack of notice
This is a taking of land without compensation
They made the timing for the hearing early, so it was difficult to get off work in time to be there
Property rights are under attack
They are stealing our property without due process
They are using eminent domain

The group feels the actions will diminish their property values. As the value diminishes, the tax base for projects such as storm water runoff project diminishes as well. To them, a project on storm-water runoff might have been better received and more effective than these regulations to gradually push human dwellings off the lake.

One resident, who read through all the material DOE put on their website about Shoreline Management said buried in the text was the admission that they plan to restore the lakes, stream and waterways to a state prior to development. They are aiming for the year 1800 here.

Certainly the county is telling landowners they will be grandfathered on the dwelling and improvements they have. But if anyone has a need to make a change to their property, they become mired in the “no net loss” regulations and have to mitigate their changes if they can get them approved at all. So your dock or bulkhead is safe, until it needs repair. If you have vacant lake property, it may be that way forever.