Burien Rejects Shoreline Master Program

Jul

Burien’s waterfront property owners vociferously expressed concerns about the Department of Ecology’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP), and the Burien City Council correspondingly rejected the Program and sent it back to DOE. The Council said it could agree to most of DOE’s requests, but did not agree with four provisions:

Buffers and Setbacks: For new construction or building upgrades, the new 50 foot buffer + 15 foot setback would have made development in many Burien waterfront lots unattainable. Burien responded with their plan to keep the existing 20 foot buffer with no additional setback.

Watercraft on Lake Burien: Burien wanted to maintain the ban on watercraft access on Lake Burien from any future public access areas.

Rebuilding: DOE wanted to make rebuilding a destroyed waterfront home more restrictive, which Burien disagreed with.

Shoreline Variances: DOE wanted to enforce a need for shoreline variances to reduce critical area buffers in geologically hazardous areas and wetlands, which Burien disagreed with.

This will be interesting to see how it plays out, since Burien and DOE will now each have to give and take to meet the state mandated requirements of having an update Shoreline Master Program.

Private vs State Owned Waterfront Land Boundaries

By Scott Price

Apr

There is a long history in the state of Washington that determines whether or not your particular waterfront property owns its beach out front, especially important on Puget Sound properties with their tidal ranges that can expose large tracts of beach at low tide. Who owns that land? You? The state? It depends.

The answer can be determined through a title search and a correct parcel map. There are properties throughout the Seattle region that fit into both categories: owning the beach, or not. The actual day to day usage of a beach in front of a waterfront property is frankly usually exactly the same whether the beach is owned or not: people without ownership still expect their beach to be quiet and well taken care of by strolling beach walkers, and most people with owned land let beach walkers go through their beach since the courtesy gets reciprocated and it allows the entire community to enjoy waterfront strolls. There are some famous exceptions, including people trying to (illegally) put fences up that become submerged at high tide, but they tend to be in remoter regions and you don’t see that around Seattle.

The Department of Natural Resources provides an informative guide to “Boundaries of State-owned Aquatic Lands” that explains many of these concepts, terms, and related waterfront property rights history. Here’s an excerpt from it:

“Fresh water, such as in lakes or rivers, or marine waters, such as in Puget Sound, are not owned by individuals. Water is managed by the state and protected for the common good. Generally, aquatic lands beneath these waters have been managed that way, too – since statehood.

On November 11, 1889, at statehood, Washington’s aquatic lands became stateowned lands under the Equal Footing Doctrine, which guaranteed new states of the Union the same rights as the original 13. Washington State, through Article XVII of its constitution, asserted ownership to the “beds and shores of all navigable waters in the state…” so that no one could monopolize the major means of transportation, trade or fishing areas. Some other states gave adjacent upland owners a “riparian” right to build over navigable waters, but Washington chose to be a “nonriparian” state – that is, it did not grant that right. It held that aquatic lands are owned by all the people of the state, not individuals.

Although owners of lands abutting stateowned aquatic lands did not receive “riparian” rights at statehood, for more than 80 years they could purchase tidelands or shorelands from the state. In 1971, the sale of the state’s aquatic lands was stopped by the state Legislature. Today, virtually all the bedlands of navigable waters are state owned, as are 30 percent of the tidelands and 75 percent of shorelands in the state. Nonnavigable bodies of water are not owned by the state, and are likely to be connected in title to the abutting upland property.”

Burien Three Tree Point waterfront real estate with Seattle area Puget Sound owned beachfront

Click picture to see this local Three Tree Point waterfront home that owns its 130' beach

Second Burien Night Beach Walk

By Scott Price

Dec

The Environmental Science Center is hosting its second Moonlight Beach Walk for this winter season. Here’s the scoop:

“Join us on New Year’s Day! Moonlight Beach Walk this Saturday, January 1st, from 7:30-9:30pm at Seahurst Beach in Burien.

Imagine you are on the shoreline at a lovely low tide. Rocks that are covered all year lie exposed to view while the sea denizens remain happily cold and wet in the dark. All around you, people waving flashlights are intently studying the amazing and abundant sea life as local naturalists help you discover the wonders of your Puget Sound shoreline.

Bundle up against the weather and be sure to bring flashlight with good batteries, warm hat and dry gloves, and wading boots (you’ll be in ankle deep water).

For more information, contact Programs@EnvScienceCenter.org or call 206-248-4266.”

Enjoy it if you go. They are always fascinating and will definitely educate you about your own “front yard” if you live on the Sound.

Seahurst Moonlight Beach Walk

By Scott Price

Dec

The Environmental Science Center is a deserving local shoreline education organization (I was previously on its Board of Directors), and they are having more of their popular Moonlight Beach Walks this winter. They are fun, entertaining, and unique. Here’s the scoop from ESC:

Don’t miss the Environmental Science Center’s Moonlight Beach Walk this Saturday, December 4th, from 7:30-9:30pm at Seahurst Beach in Burien.

BUNDLE UP AGAINST THE WEATHER AND BE SURE TO BRING: Bright flashlight with good batteries, warm hat and dry gloves, and wading boots (you’ll be in ankle deep water).

For more information, contact Programs@EnvScienceCenter.org or call 206-248-4266.

Puget Sound Waterfront Views

By Scott Price

Oct

The sellers of a waterfront home in Burien’s Shorewood on the Sound took these pictures from their deck. Amazing what we can see everyday from our Puget Sound waterfront properties here, isn’t it?

Shorewood Burien Seattle waterfront house for sale Puget Sound Olympic Mountains storm clouds

Clouds over Puget Sound

Shorewood Burien Seattle waterfront house for sale Puget Sound Olympic Mountains sunset

Sunset over Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound

Sea star on beach

Sunset clouds over Puget Sound from Shorewood Burien Seattle waterfront home for sale

Colorful waterfront living

Seattle Burien Shorewood on the Sound waterfront home for sale, view from water

Click here to see the home with these views

People For Puget Sound Gala on October 23rd

By Scott Price

Oct

People for Puget Sound is working hard to protect our beautiful “front yards”. Consider supporting them either by attending this fun event or checking out their website and joining. I was previously a volunteer waterfront community Pod Leader for them, and have always enjoyed working with the organization.

Harbor Lights 2010 Auction & Gala
Many Voices, One Sound!
October 23, 2010 | 6:00 pm | The Westin Seattle

Mark your calendars for Harbor Lights 2010: Many Voices, One Sound, and support a great organization working to ensure the long-term health and vitality of our spectacular Puget Sound. To learn more about this event and our funding goals, visit our website.

RSVP! Tickets are $150 and include a complimentary signature cocktail during the silent-auction portion of the evening, and a dinner of sumptuous, seasonal, and sustainable NW cuisine — full menu on our event info page.

VIP tickets are $250 (limited availability) and also include a champagne reception with Congressman Jim McDermott, Congressman Jay Inslee, artist Tony Angell, philanthropist Martha Kongsgaard, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, and People For Puget Sound’s Kathy Fletcher.

Join Beach Naturalists on our Local Beaches

By Scott Price

May

The King County / Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists Program is a great local asset for people that love the shoreline, its critters, and learning about our local Puget Sound ecosystem. The Beach Naturalists are all volunteers, and have gone through an informative multi-week training program held at the Seattle Aquarium before they are let loose on our local public beaches to help casually teach beachcombers young and old about what they are seeing. I was personally a Beach Naturalist for several years and enjoyed both what I learned and what I could teach others. It meshed well with my other volunteer work as a People for Puget Sound community “Pod Leader”, too.

One of the most interesting things about going out to a beach on a Beach Naturalists day is experiencing all of the hidden aspects of beach life that you would likely otherwise just walk on by without ever noticing. Even on a seemingly “barren” gravel beach there is a surprising amount of life under every little rock. And on beaches where large boulders are strewn about, the variety and intensity of sea life exposed at low tides is exceptional.

Definitely check it out; you’ll learn a lot and every visit afterwards to your own front yard or to a local beach will have more depth.

Resources:
Beach Naturalists Program
Beach Naturalists’ schedule on local public beaches
Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Times article about Beach Naturalists

Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists Program

Free Shoreline and Bluff Properties Workshop

By Scott Price

May

For anyone living on the shoreline, and especially on bluff properties, here is an informative workshop that is also free! I participated in a version of this same workshop years ago, and found it helpful. The instructors are knowledgeable about ways to improve bluff stability, reduce erosion, install appropriate plants, deal with drainage, work within complicated permit systems, and more. The first half is indoor instruction, and the second half is outdoors “hands-on” obeservation and recommendations at actual shoreline bluff properties.

The workshop is offered at three different places and dates: in Normandy Park, Vashon Island, and Discovery Park / Seattle.

From the workshop announcement:

Is your marine bluff or beach property eroding or jeopardizing your house? Do you want to manage vegetation to stabilize slopes while maintaining a beautiful view of Puget Sound?

The King Conservation District invites you to attend a FREE workshop developed for property owners along the marine shorelines of King County. The workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about the ecological, geological, and vegetation management issues associated with owning property Where the Water Begins.

Topics:

Understanding the Ecology of Marine Nearshore and Riparian Ecology

Recognizing Coastal Geological Hazards

Using Native Vegetation to Reduce Erosion & Improve Fish
and Wildlife Habitat

Who Should Attend:

Landowners interested in stable natural marine shorelines
& in reducing the potential for erosion and landslides

Seattle Waterfront View Restaurants

By Scott Price

Mar

With all of the spectacular waterfront communities and views that we have in the Seattle, you’d think that there are some restaurants with great views. And you’d be right! Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway evening, or want to entertain some out of town guests by showing them what Seattle has to offer, there are many options to pick from.

We have put together a list of some of the best Seattle waterfront view restaurants. If you have any that you think should be added, let us know.

Lake Washington waterfront home for sale in Holmes Point Kirkland

Whales are in Puget Sound Early This Year

By Scott Price

Jan

Keep your eyes out on the Sound: there have recently been gray whale sightings a month ahead of the usual time, and the Pacific coast is reporting more whale sightings than have occurred in the past 5 years. That also bodes well for seeing some of those whales stop into Puget Sound on their winter rounds.

So keep your binoculars and spotting scopes at the ready!

Puget Sound Restoration Projects Get Federal Funding

By Scott Price

Oct

The Puget Sound Partnership doubled its budget this year with a new large injection of $50 million in federal funding. Separately, $152 million is being received for other Sound related restoration projects. Here is a summary of some of the initiatives that the money will be used for preserving Puget Sound:

Determine performance measures
Reduce storm water pollution
Preserve specific habitats
Remove Elwha River dam
Build Belfair sewer system for protection of Hood Canal
Remove dikes to restore Nisqually estuary habitat

Salute to the Sound

By Scott Price

Sep

The Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is holding their “Salute to the Sound” event on Saturday September 26th at the Great Hall of Lake Union Park. From their announcement:

“Celebrate the bounty of the Sound and help us welcome keynote speaker Hedrick Smith, the Frontline correspondent of the recent Poisoned Waters series on PBS.

Join us for oysters, clams, catering by Bacchus and Arianna, Soundkeeper Organic Pale ale & other brews, local wines, live music and a Silent Auction.”

Celebrate Earth Day Waterfront Events

By Scott Price

Apr

Upcoming events from Puget Soundkeeper Alliance:

Sunday April 19th
What: Gary Manuel Aveda Institute Cut-a-Thon
Who: Schedule a hair and/or spa service for April 19th between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm and the proceeds go to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
When: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Gary Manuel Aveda Institute, (206) 329-9933
Address: 1514 10th Ave, Seattle
http://www.gmaveda.com/
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance will receive 100% of the proceeds.

Wednesday, April 22nd
What: Gary Manuel Salon Belltown and Capital Hill Earth Day Cleanup Event
Who: Calling all volunteers
When: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Where: Belltown and Capital Hill
Call Betsy Moyer at Puget Soundkeeper Alliance if you would like to volunteer (206) 297-7002

Saturday, April 25th
What: Everett Marina and Jetty Island Cleanup Event
Who: All Volunteers welcome – bring gloves, warm clothes and appropriate footware. No reservations needed.
When: 9:00 am – 12:00 (lunch served after). Transportation to and from Jetty Island provided.
Where: Popeye’s Marine & Kayak Center
Address: 814 13th St, No. Marina (access via 14th St)
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance has been involved for 15 years. Call Chris Wilke for info (206) 297- 7002.

Saturday, April 25th
What: Premiere Salon It’s the Water Event (live music, refreshments, raffle)
Who: All are welcome
When: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Premiere Salon and Spa (360) 753-3299
Address: 111 Market St #101, Olympia
Call or email Kelly Bakala at Kelly@premieresalonandspa.com. Tickets: $10
Proceeds support Puget Soundkeeper Alliance’s clean water work.

Sunday, April 26th
What: Aveda and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance Walk for Water
Who: All are welcome. Please pledge $25 to participate
When: 9:00 am registration (10 am to 12:30 pm walk & trash pickup)
Where: Golden Gardens Park
Address: 8498 Seaview Ave N, Seattle
Call Betsy Moyer for info (206) 297-7002

Sunday, April 26th
What: 2nd Annual Community Oyster Roast
Who: Anyone who likes Oysters, sausage, beer, wine and live music
When: 2-seatings – 1) from 2:00 pm to 4:00pm and 2) from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Golden Gardens Bathhouse
Address: 8498 Seaview Ave N. Seattle
http://www.pugetsoundkeeper.org/events/community-oyster-roast
Tickets available at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/54821
Annual fundraiser for Puget Soundkeeper Alliance’s work to protect and preserve Puget Sound

Saturday, May 2nd
What: Clean and Green Boating Fair, free event to kick off the boating season
Who: All are welcome – free boat tours included
When: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Delin Docks Marina on Thea Foss Waterway
Address: 1616 E “D” St, Tacoma
http://www.cleangreenboating.blogspot.com/

Saturday, May 9th
What: The Sweep – 7th Annual Lake Union and Portage Bay Cleanup
Who: All Volunteers welcome. Please sign up first (206) 297-7002
When: Volunteers check in at 8:30 am (for most)
Where: Lake Union Park (for most)
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle
http://www.pugetsoundkeeper.org/events/7th-annual-lake-union-and-portage-bay-sweep

Great Real Time Puget Sound Marine Traffic Info

By Scott Price

Mar

If you are on Puget Sound, have you ever wondered about a large ship passing silently up the shipping channels? Perhaps wonder what country it is from, or where it is heading, or even some design specs on its size?

I have just added a new feature on WaterHavens.com that offers all of that and more: real time Puget Sound marine traffic maps and info. It shows the current location of major vessels throughout Puget Sound (and the rest of the world), tracking every ship’s location, direction, and registry information. It even includes a photo of many boats, plus a graphical track of where it has just been on its recent course plotted over time.

Pretty neat stuff. You can literally look out your window and bring up this info on WaterHavens at any time to know a lot more about any boat that is right in front of you!

Elliott Bay Water Taxi is back in service

By Scott Price

Apr

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi service – that takes passengers between West Seattle dock at Seacrest Park and downtown at Pier 55 by Spring Street – is back in operation starting April 29th and runs through September 30th this year. There is also an associated free shuttle bus that connects the dock at Seacrest Park to Alki, Admiral District, and West Seattle Junction. It operates 7 days a week and operates throughout the day, with more frequent crossings during commute hours. Fare is $3, and numerous passes and associated discounts are accepted.

A community celebration will be held opening day on Sunday April 29th, including music, family activities, and free rides on the Water Taxi all day.

Christmas Ships, Land Use Regulations, News, Market

By Scott Price

Dec

Have you checked out the Christmas Ships around Lake Washington, Lake Union, and the Sound this year? Definitely worth a look, especially the December 23rd finale with the Best Decorated Boat Contest at Gasworks Park on Lake Union. Come bundle up and watch the festive sights at the different locations. It’s a great way to enjoy your WaterHaven, or visit someone else’s!

In local waterfront news, proposed land use regulations still dominate the talk among local rural WaterHaven owners. Both the Critical Areas Ordinance and a new ruling related to federal flood insurance / salmon protection have stirred up the debate something fierce. Petition drives and court cases are underway opposing restrictions on property usage, while other local organizations are educating people about environmental and community benefits. This should be interesting to watch…

Also, a team of divers discovered a World War II era fighter plane in the bottom of Lake Washington; certainly a more intriguing find than the usual array of old anchors and lawn furniture. If you haven’t mustered the time or courage to take up diving around our waterways, I highly recommend it. The lakes can be interesting, but the life teeming along the shores of the Sound are especially fascinating and world class. Yes it’s rather cold, but modern wetsuits or – even better – drysuits can keep you warm enough for your short explorations into inner space. Check out the Activities section of WaterHavens.com for a listing of local scuba clubs to get you started.

Unlike normal holiday trends, the real estate market is still very active right now. Last month saw new highs, available inventory has declined 18% from last year, and there are more buyers than sellers out there. Accordingly, prices have risen and time on market has declined. Some of the better priced properties are still moving very fast. For the November general King County market, the average residential closed sales price was $399,464 (as compared to $368,496 for November 2003) and the average condo sales price was $238,508 ($223,735 for November 2003). Average time on market has shortened from 61 days to 49 days.

In the WaterHavens waterfront market, house sales ranged from a Federal Way walk-down home on the Sound for $299,950 to a Mercer Island Lake Washington home for $5,250,000, condo sales ranged from $145,000 for a Redmond condo on Lake Sammamish to a Kirkland Lake Washington condo for $900,000, and floating home sales ranged from $135,000 to $1,135,000. Waterfront and water view inventory is down across the board, but that is usual for this time of year and is amplified by the still hot market plus excellent interest rates. There are currently 216 waterfront WaterHavens available in our local area, and even more water view and water access WaterHavens.

Enjoy a WaterHaven! Our waterfront and waterview is the best in the world.

WaterHavens: Seattle Area Waterfront Real Estate

Waterfront and Waterview Real Estate Specialists of Puget Sound and Lake Washington area communities.

Burien Rejects Shoreline Master Program

Private vs State Owned Waterfront Land Boundaries

Second Burien Night Beach Walk

Seahurst Moonlight Beach Walk

Puget Sound Waterfront Views

People For Puget Sound Gala on October 23rd

Join Beach Naturalists on our Local Beaches

Free Shoreline and Bluff Properties Workshop

Seattle Waterfront View Restaurants

Whales are in Puget Sound Early This Year

Puget Sound Restoration Projects Get Federal Funding

Salute to the Sound

Celebrate Earth Day Waterfront Events

Great Real Time Puget Sound Marine Traffic Info

Elliott Bay Water Taxi is back in service

Christmas Ships, Land Use Regulations, News, Market

Much More at WaterHavens.com!

Recent Posts

Categories