Ken Schram Commentary:

Can You Say, 'Hypocrites?'

October 26, 2004

By Ken Schram


SEATTLE - So now they're stewards of the land.

The King County Council has had what can only be described as an "environmental epiphany."

Under the guise of protecting wetlands, streams and wildlife, the council has passed ordinances that severely restrict what rural property owners can do with their land.

Want to cut some trees down?

You're screwed.

Clear those bushes?

Nope.

Build a small horse barn?

Don't think so.

With these new ordinances, up to 65% of rurally zoned property can't be touched.

Ever.

You may own it, but the county controls it.

That'd be the same county that, in the past, has allowed massive apartment complexes to spring up like weeds.

The same county that's shoehorned in condo units and housing developments.

Can you say "hypocrites?"

Landowners should expect some restrictions on property development, but this is too sweeping; too arbitrary.

It's one thing to take care with the environment, quite another to basically steal someone's property.

Maybe that's what we should expect from big city politicians who only see a salmon when it's packed in ice at the market.

Or maybe we should expect them to respect property rights, along with the environment.