Comments on: Seattle’s Stranger Takes On Lake Burien & The Art Of Land http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/ Daily Burien News, Events, Entertainment, Music, Videos & More Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:38:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-20862 Andrew Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:36:07 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-20862 I think it would be cool if there were at least a boat launch, if not a full sized park. The exposed lake front area at 12th Ave SW and 156th St is suffiecient for a boat launch. If people are concerned with the noise, or incivility, or damage to the water quality, this would seem to be a happy compromise. I think it would be cool if there were at least a boat launch, if not a full sized park. The exposed lake front area at 12th Ave SW and 156th St is suffiecient for a boat launch. If people are concerned with the noise, or incivility, or damage to the water quality, this would seem to be a happy compromise.

]]> By: Abdul Alhazred http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16477 Abdul Alhazred Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:37:15 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16477 The question I have is would the public benefit from public access to Lake Burien? I believe it is in the public interest and is supported by public policy. Per King County, the presence of fish is unknown. If there were fish, or if fish could be stocked for anglers, then the Department of Fish & Wildlife might acquire and develop public access and a public boat launch, perhaps restricted to electric motors. The city of Burien does not want to touch property lakefront property purchase with a ten-foot pole, perhaps understandably given the cost. The public might also buy responsibility for fixing potential future problems, such as declining water quality. However, the city manager and parks director could do a much better job explaining their reasoning and capital priorities. Is gaining access to Lake Burien not supported by municipal policy direction? The closest public right of way to view the lake appeared to be at the corner of SW 156th St & 12th Ave SW - this is not a legal access to the lake shoreline. There is a small, undeveloped (fenced?) parcel at the intersection that may be suitable for eventual public shoreline access, given a willing seller & buyer, or eminent domain condemnation. According to King County records (parcel 1923049054, http://www5.kingcounty.gov/parcelviewer/viewer/kingcounty/Viewer.asp ), the lake’s outfall appears as an open drainage channel crossing the Ruth Dykeman Children Center, west side of 10th Ave SW approximately SW 153rd. If this open channel were a riparian corridor connected to a public right of way, then I believe that western water law allows public access provided you stay in the channel. I’m not a lawyer - consult someone competent in riparian law in Washington. However, legal is not necessarily practical - access is very difficult if the stream course is piped, or if someone toting a shotgun disputes your crossing. The city could require a public access easement to the shoreline as a condition of approving rezoning or construction permits for the Children’s Center. I haven’t researched that, and I’m certain someone else has. At the minimum, it is in the public interest to ensure the outfall channel & structure is maintained (either by private or public entities), to keep the lake level from rising and damaging private improvements. King County quarter-section maps showing private property & public rights of way: http://your.kingcounty.gov/assessor/emap/InternetPDF/qs_SE242303.pdf http://your.kingcounty.gov/assessor/emap/InternetPDF/qs_SW192304.pdf City of Burien stormwater map index (see page 957) http://wa-burien.civicplus.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=823 The question I have is would the public benefit from public access to Lake Burien? I believe it is in the public interest and is supported by public policy.

Per King County, the presence of fish is unknown. If there were fish, or if fish could be stocked for anglers, then the Department of Fish & Wildlife might acquire and develop public access and a public boat launch, perhaps restricted to electric motors.

The city of Burien does not want to touch property lakefront property purchase with a ten-foot pole, perhaps understandably given the cost. The public might also buy responsibility for fixing potential future problems, such as declining water quality. However, the city manager and parks director could do a much better job explaining their reasoning and capital priorities. Is gaining access to Lake Burien not supported by municipal policy direction?

The closest public right of way to view the lake appeared to be at the corner of SW 156th St & 12th Ave SW – this is not a legal access to the lake shoreline. There is a small, undeveloped (fenced?) parcel at the intersection that may be suitable for eventual public shoreline access, given a willing seller & buyer, or eminent domain condemnation.

According to King County records (parcel 1923049054, http://www5.kingcounty.gov/parcelviewer/viewer/kingcounty/Viewer.asp ), the lake’s outfall appears as an open drainage channel crossing the Ruth Dykeman Children Center, west side of 10th Ave SW approximately SW 153rd. If this open channel were a riparian corridor connected to a public right of way, then I believe that western water law allows public access provided you stay in the channel. I’m not a lawyer – consult someone competent in riparian law in Washington. However, legal is not necessarily practical – access is very difficult if the stream course is piped, or if someone toting a shotgun disputes your crossing.

The city could require a public access easement to the shoreline as a condition of approving rezoning or construction permits for the Children’s Center. I haven’t researched that, and I’m certain someone else has. At the minimum, it is in the public interest to ensure the outfall channel & structure is maintained (either by private or public entities), to keep the lake level from rising and damaging private improvements.

King County quarter-section maps showing private property & public rights of way:
http://your.kingcounty.gov/assessor/emap/InternetPDF/qs_SE242303.pdf
http://your.kingcounty.gov/assessor/emap/InternetPDF/qs_SW192304.pdf

City of Burien stormwater map index (see page 957)
http://wa-burien.civicplus.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=823

]]> By: Connie Tacy http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16406 Connie Tacy Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:06:43 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16406 Maxine: Lake Burien is not owned by the taxpayers and has not had public access since approximately 1870. Many lakes in Washington, particularly the smaller ones, are privately owned. There are several small lakes in Pierce county, where I live, which are also private, though I do not live on any of them. If you go to the King County lakes link above, you'll find that the monitoring of Lake Burien has been done by volunteers. Maxine:
Lake Burien is not owned by the taxpayers and has not had public access since approximately 1870. Many lakes in Washington, particularly the smaller ones, are privately owned. There are several small lakes in Pierce county, where I live, which are also private, though I do not live on any of them. If you go to the King County lakes link above, you’ll find that the monitoring of Lake Burien has been done by volunteers.

]]> By: Brian http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16378 Brian Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:21:18 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16378 Thanks, Robbie, that explanation is helpful. My understanding is that the lake itself is public property, which makes it different that owning private property. Are there other lakes this size that are completely private? It might be helpful to get an understanding of if there are other such lakes, and where they are. The several lakes in the area I'm familiar with all have public access, and my understanding is that federal, state, and local policy all favor public access to publicly-owned bodies of water. Thanks, Robbie, that explanation is helpful. My understanding is that the lake itself is public property, which makes it different that owning private property. Are there other lakes this size that are completely private? It might be helpful to get an understanding of if there are other such lakes, and where they are. The several lakes in the area I’m familiar with all have public access, and my understanding is that federal, state, and local policy all favor public access to publicly-owned bodies of water.

]]> By: Robbie Howell http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16368 Robbie Howell Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:52:18 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16368 Michelle, Yes, the lake is indeed private. At the present time tax payers are not funding any maintenance, repair, etc on the lake. The lake owners do all of the work to maintain the lake. If there was public access all of the citizens would have to pay to maintain the lake. Michelle,

Yes, the lake is indeed private. At the present time tax payers are not funding any maintenance, repair, etc on the lake. The lake owners do all of the work to maintain the lake. If there was public access all of the citizens would have to pay to maintain the lake.

]]> By: Robbie Howell http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16366 Robbie Howell Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:35:07 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16366 Breck, Actually I am Mrs. Howell. My husband is Robert and I am Robbie. I had already come to the conclusion that I needed to use spell check, but I appreciate you letting me know that. I am a caring creditable informed real estate consultant working with the experienced professionals at Windermere Real Estate. For 33 amazing years I have thoroughly and unfailingly serviced the booming communities of South King County helping make people’s dreams come true. My competent partner/husband and I work out of our prominent location across the street from the new Burien City Hall and we are available to make your real estate dreams come true. Breck,

Actually I am Mrs. Howell. My husband is Robert and I am Robbie. I had already come to the conclusion that I needed to use spell check, but I appreciate you letting me know that.

I am a caring creditable informed real estate consultant working with the experienced professionals at Windermere Real Estate.

For 33 amazing years I have thoroughly and unfailingly serviced the booming communities of South King County helping make people’s dreams come true. My competent partner/husband and I work out of our prominent location across the street from the new Burien City Hall and we are available to make your real estate dreams come true.

]]> By: Robbie Howell http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16364 Robbie Howell Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:52:29 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16364 Brian, You can go to http://your.kingcounty.gov/library/archive-docu... to see information on Lake Burien’s environment. You can google “Who Owns the Lake Bottoms?” Since Lake Burien is private property with no public access the public has no right to use it unless invited to use it by a property owner. Over the years the people on Lake Burien have been generous to invite their children’s friends to swim with them. I know of many people who talk about the fun they had on Lake Burien with their friends who lived there while they did not. It is like anything else in life. Some kids get to own a big screen TV while others do not. Some children get to cruse the sound in their parent’s boat and others do not. Some people own houses and others live in apartments. It may be hard, but that is a fact of life. I hope this helps. Brian,

You can go to http://your.kingcounty.gov/library/archive-docu... to see information on Lake Burien’s environment.

You can google “Who Owns the Lake Bottoms?”

Since Lake Burien is private property with no public access the public has no right to use it unless invited to use it by a property owner. Over the years the people on Lake Burien have been generous to invite their children’s friends to swim with them. I know of many people who talk about the fun they had on Lake Burien with their friends who lived there while they did not.

It is like anything else in life. Some kids get to own a big screen TV while others do not. Some children get to cruse the sound in their parent’s boat and others do not. Some people own houses and others live in apartments. It may be hard, but that is a fact of life.
I hope this helps.

]]> By: Maxine http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16353 Maxine Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:10:30 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16353 Michelle, It is my understanding that the actual lake itself is owned by the State of WA, like most lakes in our state, and therefore it is owned by the taxpayers and that is one of the complaints people have about not having public access. What I've been told is that the waterfront private property owners just own up to water's edge, not the lake itself. . It appears that there are tax dollars involved, such as monitoring the health of the lake http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/wlr/water-resources/small-lakes/data/lakepage.aspx?SiteID=43 Michelle,
It is my understanding that the actual lake itself is owned by the State of WA, like most lakes in our state, and therefore it is owned by the taxpayers and that is one of the complaints people have about not having public access. What I’ve been told is that the waterfront private property owners just own up to water’s edge, not the lake itself.
.
It appears that there are tax dollars involved, such as monitoring the health of the lake
http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/wlr/water-resources/small-lakes/data/lakepage.aspx?SiteID=43

]]> By: Michelle http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16352 Michelle Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:10:27 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16352 My only question would be if we as taxpayers are funding any maintenance, repair, etc on the lake. If it is indeed part of the community and they, with their own dollars, pay all costs associated with the lake, then it is indeed private. If there are any taxpayer dollars being used then it is public. My only question would be if we as taxpayers are funding any maintenance, repair, etc on the lake. If it is indeed part of the community and they, with their own dollars, pay all costs associated with the lake, then it is indeed private. If there are any taxpayer dollars being used then it is public.

]]> By: Breck http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/07/15/seattles-stranger-takes-on-lake-burien-the-art-of-land/comment-page-1/#comment-16351 Breck Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:49:34 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=8515#comment-16351 Mr. Howell, If you'd like to be taken seriously, maybe you should check your spelling before you submit your comments. By the way, what is your area of expertise, selling houses, or environmental science? Breck Mr. Howell,
If you’d like to be taken seriously, maybe you should check your spelling before you submit your comments.

By the way, what is your area of expertise, selling houses, or environmental science?

Breck

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