Posted from the PropRights.org mail list, this will be of interest to any who remember KingRon's diatribe about rich people building McMansions on farm land in King County...

More on the Alert! County confines farmers to small houses!


What: Agricultural Commission public comment meeting
When: This Thursday, June 14, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: Issaquah fish hatchery, meeting room south of hatchery building

Thanks to Jeff for alerting the CAPR distribution to this crucial meeting. As an Ag Commissioner and CAPR member, it is not appropriate for me to speak on behalf of the Commission. But as a King County citizen and farmer, I will share these thoughts with you.

This is a must-attend meeting, to have your voice heard. You can make a difference!

The proposed Farmland Preservation Program covenants restrict our farm home sizes to about 1,950 square feet (the current median size on Ag lands). Thus 50% of farmers could not build their desired home size. This is not about preventing Microsoft managers from building 20,000 square-foot mansions. It is about the right of a hard working farmer and family to build a home!

Have no doubt, if this restriction passes, the next step in the County Council will be to further downzone our farm areas, restricting home sizes without any compensation whatever. This is an attempt to make a farmer's home look like what they think it should. It discriminates against one specific group of people - farmers. It tries to control the farmer's lifestyle, and drastically decreases the resale value of his/her property.

Where will it end? When real farmers are driven out of King County, and replaced with people having no interest in farming, looking for subsidized low-cost housing with a pleasant rural view?

The stated mission of the Ag Commission is to advise the Council on matters relating to King County agriculture. Several Commissioners have raised concerns about the home size restriction condition. But those concerns have been ignored by county employees, and we Commissioners are now apparently being asked to "ratify" these covenants on Thursday with no ability to make changes. The county government is not serving the people. This is a power play, and it is wrong!

You might want to ask the county staff, Council and Executive if they are willing to confine their working space to the median office size in King County. Or perhaps restrict their salaries to the median value in the county. This would be a help in making county government, and our taxes, more "affordable"!

Whatever your viewpoint, I ask that you attend this public meeting, observe, and make your opinions known. Later will be too late to preserve your freedom, way of life, and property values!

And I would be happy to talk more with you about details and other Ag issues.

Bob Vos
Ag Commissioner
360.825.6660