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Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums. To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage will be sold to the condo residents. Well, its going to take a little more than lip service to solve this problem. Seems like your local government needs to be proactive and buy up some of that land for public use. You're willing to ante up a lfew pesos to support that effort, aren't you? |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com... An item from the press release folder illustrates a problem that will erode opportunities for boating in most communities unless it is addressed. I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums. To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage will be sold to the condo residents. It's not just boat access that suffers. It's access for pedestrians who simply want to walk along a waterfront with an ice cream cone and enjoy the view. We're facing these issues here (Rochester), and it's not easy to deal with. Occasionally, a politician will acknowledge that so-called "city planning" is driven by contractors, but having an honest discussion at public comment meetings is next to impossible. These projects are jammed down the public's throat because city officials are connected in some way with the financial success of the projects. At one of these meetings, I listened as a resident asked two city council members if they'd be OK with having all their investments made public, so we could be sure they weren't involved in anything like limited partnerships connected with the plans being discussed. Naturally, this did not go over well, which isn't surprising. 15 years ago, the supervisor of the town where I now live was on a big campaign to have an unneeded mall built. He said it would be a great benefit to the community. It was, at least to a miniscule portion of "the community": His brother, who owned the land which was sold to the developer. The mall is now 85% vacant. |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
I pity for y'all, but living here in the middle fo BF Illinois, I don't
think we're going to have much of that problem. JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... An item from the press release folder illustrates a problem that will erode opportunities for boating in most communities unless it is addressed. I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums. To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage will be sold to the condo residents. It's not just boat access that suffers. It's access for pedestrians who simply want to walk along a waterfront with an ice cream cone and enjoy the view. We're facing these issues here (Rochester), and it's not easy to deal with. Occasionally, a politician will acknowledge that so-called "city planning" is driven by contractors, but having an honest discussion at public comment meetings is next to impossible. These projects are jammed down the public's throat because city officials are connected in some way with the financial success of the projects. At one of these meetings, I listened as a resident asked two city council members if they'd be OK with having all their investments made public, so we could be sure they weren't involved in anything like limited partnerships connected with the plans being discussed. Naturally, this did not go over well, which isn't surprising. 15 years ago, the supervisor of the town where I now live was on a big campaign to have an unneeded mall built. He said it would be a great benefit to the community. It was, at least to a miniscule portion of "the community": His brother, who owned the land which was sold to the developer. The mall is now 85% vacant. |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
"Tim" wrote in message
oups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... An item from the press release folder illustrates a problem that will erode opportunities for boating in most communities unless it is addressed. I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums. To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage will be sold to the condo residents. It's not just boat access that suffers. It's access for pedestrians who simply want to walk along a waterfront with an ice cream cone and enjoy the view. We're facing these issues here (Rochester), and it's not easy to deal with. Occasionally, a politician will acknowledge that so-called "city planning" is driven by contractors, but having an honest discussion at public comment meetings is next to impossible. These projects are jammed down the public's throat because city officials are connected in some way with the financial success of the projects. At one of these meetings, I listened as a resident asked two city council members if they'd be OK with having all their investments made public, so we could be sure they weren't involved in anything like limited partnerships connected with the plans being discussed. Naturally, this did not go over well, which isn't surprising. 15 years ago, the supervisor of the town where I now live was on a big campaign to have an unneeded mall built. He said it would be a great benefit to the community. It was, at least to a miniscule portion of "the community": His brother, who owned the land which was sold to the developer. The mall is now 85% vacant. I pity for y'all, but living here in the middle fo BF Illinois, I don't think we're going to have much of that problem. No lakes out your way? If there are, developers will find them. Just wait. |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
Jim wrote: "Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums. To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage will be sold to the condo residents. Well, its going to take a little more than lip service to solve this problem. Seems like your local government needs to be proactive and buy up some of that land for public use. You're willing to ante up a lfew pesos to support that effort, aren't you? Funny that you would bring that up. Here in the Soviet of Washington, The People already own most of the land beyond the high tide or high water line. The property is administered by the Department of Natural Resources, or DNR. A lot of good it does us to "own" this, however. Ownership doesn't equate to access. Because The People of the State of Washington own the land, owners of adjacent properties- (marinas, fuel docks, boat yards, private residents, yacht clubs, restaurants, etc) get to "lease" the ground under the water from the DNR. Obviously there are no competitors in the game of leasing out the ground into which your pilings have been driven, so the rates are whatever the state thinks traffic will bear. And the state thinks the traffic will bear a lot! These perpetually increasing costs for DNR "leases" make property taxes look like a bargain, and the costs are passed along to the boating public or absorbed by the business owner until they are driven under by the expense. Land use policy makers would do well to recognize the significant contribution to local economies provided by recreational boaters. What other group spends so much, while expecting so little in return? :-) Public ownership is nice, but all the parks, easements, and so forth aren't of much value to boaters unless boating is included in the activities envisioned on the public properties and reasonable access is assured. |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
Doug, the bigger lakes are controlled by the army Corps pf Engineers,
and the smaller lakes are in the State parks. Then the rivers are, well... rivers. So If there's going to be any developing, I think it will be very controlled. But then again..... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Tim" wrote in message oups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... An item from the press release folder illustrates a problem that will erode opportunities for boating in most communities unless it is addressed. I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums. To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage will be sold to the condo residents. It's not just boat access that suffers. It's access for pedestrians who simply want to walk along a waterfront with an ice cream cone and enjoy the view. We're facing these issues here (Rochester), and it's not easy to deal with. Occasionally, a politician will acknowledge that so-called "city planning" is driven by contractors, but having an honest discussion at public comment meetings is next to impossible. These projects are jammed down the public's throat because city officials are connected in some way with the financial success of the projects. At one of these meetings, I listened as a resident asked two city council members if they'd be OK with having all their investments made public, so we could be sure they weren't involved in anything like limited partnerships connected with the plans being discussed. Naturally, this did not go over well, which isn't surprising. 15 years ago, the supervisor of the town where I now live was on a big campaign to have an unneeded mall built. He said it would be a great benefit to the community. It was, at least to a miniscule portion of "the community": His brother, who owned the land which was sold to the developer. The mall is now 85% vacant. I pity for y'all, but living here in the middle fo BF Illinois, I don't think we're going to have much of that problem. No lakes out your way? If there are, developers will find them. Just wait. |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
"Tim" wrote in message
ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Tim" wrote in message oups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... An item from the press release folder illustrates a problem that will erode opportunities for boating in most communities unless it is addressed. I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums. To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage will be sold to the condo residents. It's not just boat access that suffers. It's access for pedestrians who simply want to walk along a waterfront with an ice cream cone and enjoy the view. We're facing these issues here (Rochester), and it's not easy to deal with. Occasionally, a politician will acknowledge that so-called "city planning" is driven by contractors, but having an honest discussion at public comment meetings is next to impossible. These projects are jammed down the public's throat because city officials are connected in some way with the financial success of the projects. At one of these meetings, I listened as a resident asked two city council members if they'd be OK with having all their investments made public, so we could be sure they weren't involved in anything like limited partnerships connected with the plans being discussed. Naturally, this did not go over well, which isn't surprising. 15 years ago, the supervisor of the town where I now live was on a big campaign to have an unneeded mall built. He said it would be a great benefit to the community. It was, at least to a miniscule portion of "the community": His brother, who owned the land which was sold to the developer. The mall is now 85% vacant. I pity for y'all, but living here in the middle fo BF Illinois, I don't think we're going to have much of that problem. No lakes out your way? If there are, developers will find them. Just wait. Doug, the bigger lakes are controlled by the army Corps pf Engineers, and the smaller lakes are in the State parks. Then the rivers are, well... rivers. So If there's going to be any developing, I think it will be very controlled. But then again..... The Sopranos are everywhere and they eventually get to anyone they want. |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
Land use policy makers would do well to recognize the significant contribution to local economies provided by recreational boaters. What other group spends so much, while expecting so little in return? :-) Public ownership is nice, but all the parks, easements, and so forth aren't of much value to boaters unless boating is included in the activities envisioned on the public properties and reasonable access is assured. What will you do to help remedy the problem? |
Access to the water will be increasingly challenging
These perpetually
increasing costs for DNR "leases" make property taxes look like a bargain, and the costs are passed along to the boating public or absorbed by the business owner until they are driven under by the expense. So do something about it locally, not just whinge in a newsgroup. Vote people in that will pay better attention to what you're after. |
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