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South Lake Sammamish Update
News from the South Lake Sammamish Association SLSA
August 25, 2005
In this issue: Annexation on Fall Ballot * Property Tax Savings Details * Four Local County Parks to Become Issaquah Parks * Zoning Change Public Hearing September 6th * Garage Sale September 17th and 18th * Fall SLSA Meeting September 29th * General Election November 8th
Annexation on Fall Ballot
It's official: The question of whether we want to be annexed to Issaquah will be on the fall general election ballot. Twice! To be annexed, we need to vote Yes on two separate questions. Yes for Greenwood Point-South Cove Annexation, and Yes for Assumption of Indebtedness.
We now know the exact words of the questions to be asked, and it ain't pretty. Here is the wording the lawyers came up with:
GREENWOOD POINT-SOUTH COVE ANNEXATION
The Issaquah City Council passed Resolution No. 2005-03 concerning annexation of the Greenwood Point-South Cove Annexation Area which would authorize annexation of that area of unincorporated King County known as the Greenwood Point-South
Cove Annexation Area as legally described in Resolution No. 2005-03. Shall that area of unincorporated King County known as the Greenwood Point-South Cove Annexation Area as legally described in City of Issaquah Resolution No. 2005-03 be annexed to the City of Issaquah?
For annexation.
Against annexation.
GREENWOOD POINT-SOUTH COVE
ASSUMPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS
The Issaquah City Council passed Resolution No. 2005-03, which would authorize assessment and taxation of property within the Greenwood Point-South Cove Annexation Area, if annexed, at the same rate and on the same basis as property within the City of Issaquah is assessed and taxed to pay for the then-outstanding indebtedness of the City of Issaquah. If the property in unincorporated King County known as the Greenwood Point-South Cove Annexation Area is annexed to the City of Issaquah, shall all property within such annexation area be assessed and taxed at the same rate and on the same basis as the property of the City of Issaquah is assessed and taxed to pay for all or any portion of the
then outstanding indebtedness of the City of Issaquah?
For assumption of indebtedness.
Against assumption of indebtedness.
If we approve both Annexation and Assumption of Indebtedness, we will enjoy the same lower property rates that current Issaquah city residents pay. Some of these taxes will be used to pay back mortgages on the police station which will serve us, the senior citizen's center, traffic light synchronization and a few other community projects which have been financed using bonds. If we do not approve Assumption of Indebtedness, we have been told that the City Council will reject annexation.
Property Tax Savings Details
A "typical" single family home in our area will save over $700 a year in property taxes if annexation occurs and debt is assumed. These savings will be partially offset by the Issaquah utility tax and higher stormwater fees.
Here's a house here in unincorporated King County:
2030 square feet - assessed value for 2005 = $337,000
Fire benefit charge is included in this calculation though it isn't strictly based on assessed value.
And a very similar home already in the City of Issaquah
3 bedroom 2-story home built 1979
2380 square feet - assessed value for 2005 = $337,000
There will be no fire benefit charge after annexation.
The above Meerwood Homeowner would be paying $734.12 less in total property taxes if the home were already in Issaquah.
Property values will still be assessed by King County, so only rates, not assessed values, will be affected by annexation. Thanks to Becky Stenzel, who is a commercial property appraiser living in Meerwood, for providing this comparison.
The property tax savings would be offset by a 6% utility tax (on electric, natural gas, phone, etc) that for the average home could exceed $200 a year, and by higher net stormwater charges. These tax increases will occur at the time of the annexation, but property tax reductions may not occur until the next property tax billing cycle.
Four Local County Parks to Become Issaquah Parks
Upon annexation, King County plans to transfer ownership of four local parks to the City of Issaquah. The King County Council will take public comment Monday in preparation of passing an ordinance which specifies the details.
Sammamish Cove Park is a meadow off the parkway just west of Lake Sammamish State Park. Lewis Creek Natural Area is off Newport Way on the south side of I-90. Meerwood Park is the pocket park created by the Meerwood Homeowners Association and King County. Timberlake Park is a wooded path from W Lake Sammamish Parkway to the beach.
King County properties which are not regarded as parks will remain county property. Notable examples are the gravel area adjacent to the large brick Sammamish Beach Club sign, and the "Blackberry Park" in Lake West. Private HOA parks will, of course, remain private.
Zoning Change Public Hearing September 6th
When annexation occurs, the zoning for each property will be mapped from current county zoning designation to the most comparable city zoning designation.
In our area, all single family homes will change from County R-6 zoning to Single Family - Small Lot zoning. Sammamish Bluffs condos will change from R-48 to Multifamily High. Other condos and apartments will change from R-12 to Multifamily Medium.
The City of Issaquah zoning tends to be more restrictive by having slightly larger setbacks, lower building heights, more required permeable surfaces and fewer condo units per acre. All existing structures would be grandfathered.
For single family homes:
Front yard setbacks will remain 10 feet.
Side yard setbacks to increase from 5 to 6 feet.
Rear yard setback increased from 5 to 20 feet.
Allowed building height reduced from 35 feet to 30 feet.
Maximum impervious surfaces reduced from 70% of lot to 50% of lot.
A public hearing on these proposed zoning changes will be held Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 7:30 PM in Issaquah Council Chambers on Sunset Way. www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/news.asp?newsid=423
Multi-Neighborhood Garage Sale - September 17th and 18th.
Even if you live in a different neighborhood, the shoppers are still sure to find you. What do they know about our silly boundaries? Meet your neighbors and remember: Your junk is somebody else's treasure.
SLSA Fall Meeting
Our fall meeting is scheduled for September 29th at the Library Resource Center on Newport Way. The main topic, of course, will be Annexation. Stay tuned for more details.
Thursday, September 29th, 7pm
Library Resource Center
960 Newport Way NW
www.kcls.org/servcenter/home.cfm
General Election November 8th
If our aren't registered to vote, or you are registered at your old address, you won't be able to vote on the Annexation issue. You can download a registration form from our web site: www.issaquahweb.org/slsa/
This e-mail was compiled by David Bangs and sent via the South Lake Sammamish Association e-mail list. To submit a posting, subscribe, unsubscribe or update your contact information, please e-mail and mention either your address or the name of your neighborhood.
