Comments on: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Burien’s Shoreline Master Program Requires Citizen Involvement

By: stacy colombel

stacy colombel — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:59:22 +0000

NEW SUBJECT: TRANSIENTS IN BURIEN.
Did anyone notice since we basically destroyed our small and beautiful Burien Library and now only have the large Regional Library that we are attracting more probem
transients and teenagers . Witness as soon as we completed there is a lot of vandalism to the property in and out and we require a security guard even in the
elevator. Today I saw a probable transient inside the library having a heated argument with the staff there. They told him not to set fires.

Burien needs a extra security guard on the outside as well and inside

Stacy Colombel

By: concerned citizen

concerned citizen — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:43:32 +0000

As long as we are talking about taxes,well maybe taxes were only touched on,I feel that you should all know that our new public works director is proposing new taxes for all of us. Larry Blanchard would like us all to pay $3-$5 a month per utility in our home or on our property. So if you have power,water,sewer,gas,phone,tv,internet that is $3-$5 per utility or $21-$30 per month. That is $252-$360 a year for services that we ALREADY PAY FOR. This tax will also apply to businesses in the same way but will also have a square footage charge.The idea is to buy heavy equipment and start a Burien maintenance department. Now I feel that King County does an excellent job servicing the citizens of Burien, so why raise taxes to fund a very expensive street maintenance department that we already pay for now without higher taxes? I have been told that he will present his proposal to the city manager as soon as the end of this month and that Mike Martin(funny how both of these guys came from the City of Kent)will present it to council very soon. It is also my understanding that council can approve this tax without going to a public vote. I for one am concerned about council raising taxes without my approval. Maybe people in city hall need to concentrate on how to fill a very empty town square to bring in revenue instead of raising taxes.

By: Kai J.

Kai J. — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:41:44 +0000

Jim and Lee,

Thank you for your respectful and helpful response.
On the Redondo style strip to the south of the point, besides the fact I need to proof read before I click send, I did a bit of homework and was enlightened that so much of the information I had from neighbors and various city resources about the waterfront there was misleading. After reading through a few property legal descriptions on the tax assessor site it is clear that they do indeed have the same ownership as most other Burien waterfront homeowners and the tax bills to go with it. The garages (delete squatter) could stand to be more uniform and attractive, but that is a private consideration and whatever grand-fathering allows then so be it? I stand corrected and am not touching that topic again!

On the general access to beaches and lakes I had NO idea until I attended the planning meeting last night that such divisive recommendations are being pushed in what appears to be a less than transparent manner. The city has yet to fully utilize many of the street ends and other access points to the beaches, and we all know that while many / most of the beaches are privately owned many non-beach owners make the effort and enjoy a beach walk whenever they please.
If the city adopts any of the controversial shoreline changes proposed they surely must have a considerable amount of the ailing budget set aside for one heck of a legal battle. If the turn-out last night was any indication, all those impacted tax payers are already galvanizing to protect their rights.

Kai

By: Jim Branson

Jim Branson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:49:19 +0000

All of the homes and the garages in that stretch are built in a manner that would not be permitted anywhere else in the city. I think they are calling it a variance. If a homeowner anywhere else in the city asked to build their house or their garage right up to the shoulder of the road, using up the right of way and leaving no possibility of a sidewalk, it would not be permitted. I’m not sure if that means those garages are illegal, exactly. That stretch of SW 172nd is built in a manner that current codes would not allow (without a variance). Most waterfront homes in Burien are built in critical areas where regulations would make it difficult or impossible if you tried to build a new home like that today.

By: Lee Moyer

Lee Moyer — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:50:52 +0000

Kaito,
I served on the same committee as Jim and we received working maps and other info on the shorelines of Burien. I appreciate your implied generosity of allowing peaceful users on the beach infront of your home. Although the water is public, the land surface is yours. In Burien, the tidelands belong to the upland shoreline owners. In referring to “squarer” (I presume “squatter”) garages south of the point, I presume you mean south of the public access area at the end of Maplewild. Per my maps, the owners on the upland side of the road own the beach and tidelands as well. If there are illegal garages, please give specifics, because you are right, that would be he place to start for getting more public access.

By: Kaito J

Kaito J — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:08:15 +0000

Jim,
We have been thoughtfully following the waterfront and parks issues as we are fortunate enough to live on the beach. I respect your views and while I would rather the semi-private beach in front of our home remain as peaceful as possible, the sand and water belong to everyone.

Yet adding additional public access next to the property we pay a ridiculious amount of Burien-property taxes for seems hypocritical when Burien citizens don’t even have access to the stretches of beach already owned by the city? Specifically the strech just south of the point covered with squarer garages and what not. That would be a good place to start. Reclaim and improve what Burien already has before they push for what they do not yet have?

Our two cents for now…

Kaito

By: Jim Branson

Jim Branson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:47:29 +0000

Well, I have attempted to talk to you, napavine, but I haven’t a clue what you are saying. Maybe someone could translate.

I did attend tonight’s meeting about the Shoreline Master Program, and most of the time was taken up by over 30 Three Tree Point homeowners saying they don’t want more public access in their neighborhood. There is a trade off that comes with balancing more public access with property values and environmental protection.

With my idea for a Park Ranger, there is no trade off. Everyone wins. Low income people who don’t live on the beach get access to clean and safe parks. People who neighbor parks and public access get safer and cleaner neighborhoods and increased property values. The people who are currently breaking the law receive protection from their own unwise actions. The tax dollars necessary for a Park Ranger system are repaid many times over in higher property values, increased tax revenues, and healthier living. Nobody loses with the Park Ranger plan.

By: napavine

napavine — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:07:42 +0000

Its more police and some park rangers. Cultural diversity? Neighborhood diversity separates burienites. SW rocks. No more big words Jim. Talk to us slow folk also.

By: Jim Branson

Jim Branson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:38:08 +0000

I don’t understand your comment, as to what you are arguing for or against. Could you explain? Are you saying Park Rangers would oppress the disenfranchised and that would be a good thing? Or are you saying that environmental degradation is a necessary component of cultural diversity? Either way, I wish you would explain.

By: napavine

napavine — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:05:22 +0000

Park Ranger. Equipted w/firearm and ticket booklet. If the suspect is has no valid ID and clearly unable or unwilling to pay the fine, then bring out the firearm. Our relaxed transient and hoodlum policy has to change before Burien will ever be one community.
The area’s of segragation are already in place and busting down these borders is going to fall on the council. Diveristy is fine until it effects the rich & the property values of your tax payers. More police and park rangers is good money spent. Sorry to bust in on our shoreline, but a little coastal erosion will be small compaired to community erosion that will soon face Burien without a good fight.