King County Council nears vote on protecting 95 green spaces
June 28, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
New June 28, 10:40 a.m.
Ken Konigsmark wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s perfect, but in politics you have to compromise sometimes.
Konigsmark, a resident of rural King County between Issaquah and Preston, has followed the evolution of a county proposal to protect roughly 150,000 acres of county-owned lands, including some next to Sammamish.
“I know the risk that faces these lands based on the political whims that come and go,” Konigsmark said. “It takes something stronger than trusting the political system to protect these lands.”
The King County Council is debating an amendment to the county charter — effectively the county’s constitution — that would create an extra level of protection for these lands. If approved by the council, the charter amendment would need to be approved by county voters in November.
If ultimately approved, 95 properties could only be sold by a supermajority vote of the county council.
An earlier version of the proposal, introduced by County Councilman Bob Ferguson (Shoreline), would have required that the public vote to remove or add lands on the protected list.
Ferguson said he preferred the new proposal, which would give voters a chance to vote on the initial list of 95 properties, but then put the onus on the County Council to consider future removals or additions.
“The idea to go back to all the voters of the county to vote on something that specific doesn’t make sense,” Ferguson said.
King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, who represents Sammamish as well Issaquah, Redmond, North Bend and parts of rural King County, said she’s pleased with the changed proposal, too.
“We ended up where I wanted to be in the beginning,” Lambert said. “I’m happy that we got there and were able to preserve the properties.”
The original proposal would have been ideal, Konigsmark said, but this is the next best thing. Right now, those 95 lands are safe from being sold only in the sense that the current elected officials don’t want to sell the lands and there could be public outcry if they did, he said.
“All it takes is a different county administration. And in a tight budget time like they’re in right now, who’s to say that they wouldn’t sell?” he said.
Many of the lands, however, are either protected by a conservation easement or are wetlands and could not be developed even if they were sold.
The lands are scattered all over the county. Locally, two abut Sammamish — Hazel Wolf Wetlands and Soaring Eagle Park — and others are just outside the city.
The Evans Crest Natural Area is a 30-acre property north of the Timberline neighborhood and south of Redmond-Fall City Road.
Other nearby areas on the list include the Evans Creek Natural Area near Redmond, portions of Cougar and Squak mountains, and parts of the Issaquah Creek.
For more information on the list of protected lands, go to http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/charter/issues/openspace.aspx.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com.
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