A Bellevue homeowner was recently cited for replacing 12 rotted deck boards on his pier without a permit. On Lake Washington, a minor change to a dock required the planting of two willow trees along the waterfront, blocking views, and adding more shading to the lake.Dock repair can require approval from seven different government agencies, extending the project many months, costing thousands of dollars in permit fees, and often requiring changes to fully grated decking to add more light to the lake.A waterfront homeowner in Holmes Point was required to post a long-term $5K performance bond to assure the mitigation plants and trees along the waterfront would be maintained for five years. The current Regional General Permit requires the bottom of fresh water docks to be one and one-half feet above the water, without fascia, which would not be very practical for boat use or swimming. Federal, state and local regulations are not consistent, and use the most restrictive regulations of each, often making the homeowner’s request impractical. Water access shouldn’t be so difficult! Get involved with SPOCA and help make a difference now.
Labels: War Stories