tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post6599884224337131582..comments2023-04-11T02:20:52.151-07:00Comments on carl votes: Carl Weimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11749916040026874581noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-82193571341194866772010-04-15T14:09:13.809-07:002010-04-15T14:09:13.809-07:00At this date (April 15) www.realtytrac.com now lis...At this date (April 15) www.realtytrac.com now lists for Whatcom County these homes for sale:<br /><br />Auction (Trustee Sale) 292 properties<br />Bank-Owned 327 properties<br />Bank-Owned Bank Hot 17 properties<br />Bank-Owned Govt. Prop 2 properties<br />Homes For Sale MLS 352 properties<br />Homes For Sale Bank Hot 17 properties<br /><br />(Notice how short sales and bank-owned sales remove 'foreclosures' from the market place.)<br /><br />Maybe Whatcom County Council should let developers and banks build out liberally with the caveat that any home not sold to owner/occupants one year from permit issue date reverts to Whatcom County ownership. You can site the security (arson, squatting, drug house) dangers of unoccupied homes as a civic cost.<br /><br />Let's see how many permits are applied for then.Ryan M. Ferrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03122603266808854365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-42926341010381900822010-04-14T21:29:05.336-07:002010-04-14T21:29:05.336-07:00"The vesting issues that the letter purports ..."The vesting issues that the letter purports to be about are very complicated and I don't want to get into them here."<br /><br />That's because you don't understand vesting issues Carl. And neither does your "posse" (Harris, McShane, Lesow, et al.) Vesting might just as well be a foriegn word to you; you certainly have never indicated that you understand it's meaning while sitting on the council.<br /><br />Hey Carl, for the record, who writes your blog? Either Wendy Harris writes for you... or you write for her. Almost the same blog entry over on the late rupub....The Velvet Hammernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-30368934679052526482010-04-13T17:28:00.125-07:002010-04-13T17:28:00.125-07:00Carl, thanks for the straw vote against expanding ...Carl, thanks for the straw vote against expanding the UGA for Bellingham in order for Ciatac to develop. No expansion should take place until 1) there is a real need as described by the city of Bellingham, and 2)the County has in place a working TDR program with the receiving areas in ag zoned lands and in the APO areas. We also need a stronger PDR program with funds that are confirmed and with a system in place to visit landowners that would benefit by such a program. How difficult would it be to develop a program like we have for Lake Whatcom? Would that work for protecting our ag lands? DorieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-399806354121585152010-04-12T10:53:51.963-07:002010-04-12T10:53:51.963-07:00For the moment I would just say that Nelson, Crawf...For the moment I would just say that Nelson, Crawford and Kershner are ill behaved and have crossed a line of interference in administrative matters. It is also clear to me that they are being lazy. They perceive a problem that could be addressed legislatively but are too lazy to do anything about it or are too cowardly because the solution they want may be too repellent.<br /><br />There are times when I disagreed with a planning staff report on a Hearing Examiner appeal. There are also times when I disagreed with the Hearing Examiner’s rulings. Never once did it ever cross my mind to write a letter to the administration regarding the Planning Department’s interpretation of a regulation or the failure to note missing information.<br /><br />This letter combined with the letter from Goldstar legal representation Mr. Swanson appears to be an effort to sully the reputation of the best planning director this county has had in two decades. I hope that Mr. Kremen sees this for what it is and stands up to this bully tactic.Dan McShanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17044037213245602667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-49519244456193393392010-04-12T09:37:48.527-07:002010-04-12T09:37:48.527-07:00The moment the idea is admitted into society that ...The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. - John AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-59568939617559510492010-04-11T21:38:20.979-07:002010-04-11T21:38:20.979-07:00Well, what a coincidence! Jack Swanson, author of ...Well, what a coincidence! Jack Swanson, author of the letter criticizing Stalheim's performance, happens to be a partner of a law firm that specializes in using short plat applications to argue that this has vested the right to develop property in the future, so that pesky CAO and SMP requirements do not burden people who wish to build new homes in the Lake Whatcom and Drayton Harbor watersheds. David Stalheim has been a real pain to Jack and his clients by asserting that vested rights for short plat subdivisions do not vest rights for building applications. And now, Stalheim is being criticized for his position on short plat vesting in an artfully drafted and legally sophisticated letter issued by County Council Members who lack any legal training. <br /><br />If I was a cynical person, I would almost suspect that someone from Jack Swanson's law firm drafted this letter, which was then signed and issued by three Council Members who may be unlikely to fully understand the nuances of the legal issues discussed in their own letter, but do understand that Stalheim stands in the way of unregulated development in sensitive watersheds. <br /><br />Hey Carl, if I draft a letter on a legally complex issue that you really do not understand, would you sign it and send it to the County Executive so that I can get someone that I do not like fired?Wendy Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964898131546939654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-53173657520519133712010-04-10T11:21:42.509-07:002010-04-10T11:21:42.509-07:00I attended the Planning Committee Meeting on March...I attended the Planning Committee Meeting on March 30, 2010, so I know first hand that Swanson's accusations are false and outrageous. <br /><br />Director Stalheim and his staff did an outstanding job of explaining LAMIRDS in general. Specially, they explained the policy adopted by the Planning Commission in making its recommendations, as well as three alternative options that the Council could use should it choose to reject the Planning Commission's recommendations. There was never any question that the final decision rested with Council, and that Council intended to explore these options, as confirmed by the minutes from this meeting, posted on the County website.<br /><br />What the minutes do not reflect is the compliment paid to the Planning Department by County Council Member Kershner after the presentation, which was echoed by the head nods of other Council Members. Ms. Kershner stated that this was the most helpful explanation that she had received to date on the LAMIRD issues and that she had a much better understanding of this matter thanks to the Planning presentation.<br /><br />Where was Jack Swanson when County Council was expressing its appreciation for the very presentation that he criticized? Is there no depth too low for the development lobby to sink in its relentless crusade for profits at the public's expense. <br /><br />A question that needs to be answered is who on the Council is encouraging and/or supporting these type of bully tactics? Perhaps the Council Chairperson can answer that for us, although it will probably have to wait until he is done coddling the UGA plaintiffs by holding a meeting that is clearly meant to undue all the work done last year by the prior County Council.<br /><br />Wendy HarrisWendy Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964898131546939654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5109719784602609028.post-90365752594821086102010-04-09T10:10:07.816-07:002010-04-09T10:10:07.816-07:00Thanks again for providing an interesting view. Sw...Thanks again for providing an interesting view. Swanson represents Goldstar. Goldstar has made huge profits from past Council action and just got another win when the Council dropped the transfer of development rights requirement for the upzone they were granted in 2004. Thanks for doing the right thing on that issue.Dan McShanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17044037213245602667noreply@blogger.com