- Planning
commission bypassed
- New
committee to mull R1 rule
- SUNNYSIDE (Tuesday, 10-19-99)--The city
voted 3-2 after a public hearing last night to form
a Select Committee to study a new R1 zone proposal
which has created a stir the past few
days.
-
- The Select Committee will be formed of many
who spoke for and against the proposal, plus city
staff and councilmen.
-
- Current law requires new houses built on
empty lots in existing R1 neighborhoods to contain
100% of the living space of the average square
footage of existing homes within 500 feet, OR at
least 1300 square feet of living space, whichever
is greater. Living space excludes attached garages,
etc.
-
- The proposed law would simply insert 90% in
place of the 100%. The Planning Commission earlier
recommended the Council approve the
measure.
-
- Property owners say building smaller houses
near theirs will bring down their property values.
They say any new city laws should help them
maintain their investment and expectation of
property value appreciation over time.
-
- Several Realtors contend the 1300
square-foot rule is fair by itself. But they stood
up for deleting any percentage requirements. They
said percentage rules are a "bad idea" which tend
to make individual home builders and developers go
elsewhere to build new homes.
-
- In an attempt to discover a middle ground
between current property owners and developers, the
council decided 3-2 to form the ad hoc Committee
composed of Realtors, homeowners, councilmen, and
city staff to hammer out a compromise. The
Committee must present its recommendation to the
council by November 29.
-
- Several persons spoke up about the issue
last night.
-
- Martin Campbell said he bought a lot in a
Harrison Hill subdivision, intending to build an
1800-square foot home for himself and his wife,
whose children are grown. Then someone built a
3,000 square foot home next to his lot.
-
- "Now I'd have to build a 2200-square foot
home. There's not room on our lot for that. I'd
have to go two stories. We're not interested in
that," Campbell said.
-
- Builder Tom Biehl indicated the percentage
rules have a "dastardly effect" for building in
Sunnyside's R1 zones.
-
- "It...will protect existing (large home)
owners from smaller homes moving in. But the higher
the standard you set, the more people you exclude
from home ownership, he said. He added his doubts
that "bigger is always better" when it comes to
homes.
-
- Fenn Schrader was against overarching
government rules concerning home placement and
sizes. He said neighborhood covenants handle these
situations in some areas, which is better than
blanket (city) policy.
-
- Realtor Kenny Nelson said all Realtors favor
preservation of property values, because home sales
are the way they make their livings. He also
indicated city rules are of increasing importance
today. The state-enforced Growth Management Act
won't allow builders to leapfrog outside city
limits. He suggested a think tank be formed to come
up with solutions other than size rules.
-
- "Besides, the value of homes is decided by
curb appeal--the quality that goes into materials
and workmanship, landscaping and other
variables--not just size," Nelson said.
-
- Homeowner Jim Stevens told the Council he
appreciated the new rule and the council's intent
to preserve the value of existing homes. He
rejected the characterization that homeowners were
seeking protection from (little) homes.
-
- "My concern is that many business owners (as
well as city and school professionals) choose not
to live in Sunnyside. He noted some homes in town
take two or three years just to sell. "I hate to
see the intent of the new law diluted," Stevens
said.
-
- Jo Moore, who lives in a 2200 square-foot
home on Mayhew, told the Council the price she and
her husband get for their present home will make a
great difference in how they live when they retire.
She fears smaller homes in a new subdivision nearby
will detract from her home's sale value. She added
that it takes 80% of a subdivision to agree on
covenants.
-
- "Don't be misled. You're doing right" with
the proposed law, she said.
-
- Councilman Don Vlieger said quality does
indeed follow size in home building. Moreover, he
said the new law is not talking about in-filled
lots, where existing covenants are grandfathered
in.
-
- "The issue here is protecting existing
homes. Also this (new proposal) is workable. It is
a property right to expect similar homes to be
built nearby," he said. He said he would like to
see new subdivisions exempt from the new rule,
having it apply only for in-fills within existing
neighborhoods.
-
- Councilman Chad Werkhoven said, "Rules are
meant to help people, not strangle them. People
have a right to have property values protected.
Obviously, Realtors are not happy with this rule.
We want to protect our low density neighborhoods,"
he said.
-
- He called on Realtors to come forth with new
ideas, including variance procedures, governing
placement of new, high quality smaller homes by
older, larger ones. He assured the assembly he
could go through Sunnyside and point out where
in-filling with cheaper, smaller homes had
decreased neighborhood property values.
-
- Councilman Mike Farmer said the strength of
a community is in its R1 zones, where citizens are
making long-range investments. "Small homes can be
lovely--but some are not," he said. He suggested
neighborhood committees be formed to look at
problems.
-
- Councilman Errol Brown agreed with Realtors,
stating the city was attempting to regulate more
than it needs to. He believes the 1300-square-foot
minimum for R1 homes should stand as it is, without
the percentage rule. Councilman Roy Anciso
agreed.
-
- Mayor Ed Prilucik suggested the council
revisit the proposal along with Realtors, builders,
concerned homeowners, city staff and a non-quorum
of Council members. "We need to study the situation
in a more relaxed atmosphere," Prilucik
said.
-
- Werkhoven added that recommendations of such
a committee should be complete by the end of
November, while it's still fresh in everyone's
minds.
-
- The suggestion came to a vote, and was
approved by Vlieger, Werkhoven, and Farmer. Anciso
and Brown voted against it. Mayor Prilucik votes
only in case of a tie.
-
- Anciso said formation of the new Committee
made it appear the Council didn't trust the
Planning Commission it appointed.
-
- In other business, the Council:
- Presented through Benji Aguilar
beautification awards to Learning Land, the
Sunnyside Christian Elementary School, the Nick
Paulakis family, plus Jeff and Linda
Goede.
- Heard a presentation by Richard Dickman for
Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Assn. medical
savings accounts, which are tax free, for
Washington State employees, including city
staff.
- Heard a 1998 water quality report from
Public Works Director Gary Potter. Reports on
Sunnyside's water quality will come forth annually,
as feds require.
- Resolved to consider buying a $10,000 CD
digital voice-logging recorder for police dispatch
services. Of this, $9,000 comes from a Dept. of
Justice block grant; $1,000 from city
coffers.
- Approved a $480-per-year annual agreement
for several persons to lease a hangar at the
Sunnyside Municipal airport. Lessees include Ted
and Pamela Durfey, Richard and LuAnn Roach, John
and Dorothy Anderson, Jack and Stanalee Brown, and
Hertelendy Aircraft Components, Inc. from Jan. 1,
1999 to Dec. 31, 2003.
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