I just received a card from the Common Sense Alliance and neither my wife nor I could make much sense out of it. If you read literally the quoted “facts” that allege the county has hidden information from you while working on changes to the Critical Areas Ordinance, you certainly might be frightened.

The card implies that the county will implement “sweeping new regulations to move island homes 150 to 200 feet or more away from shorelines and wetlands.” This really would be scary if true. However, the county has no plans to physically move islander’s homes from their current locations. Any new setback restrictions would only apply to new construction, not existing homes near the shoreline or wetlands.

Another breathless CSA “fact” suggests that there will be a “social” impact by somehow shifting “the tax burden from lost waterfront property values to all other island property owners.” This requires a suspension of belief in the law of supply and demand. Because existing waterfront homes will remain where they are, and on undeveloped waterfront property new structures are sighted further landward than the current 50 foot setback (100 feet without screening), then currently developed waterfront property will increase in value because of the limited supply. Since geology is not making more shoreline, waterfront property will still command a premium over inland properties. So, other than through market forces, how exactly will real-estate tax revenues decline?

Finally, we were unable to decipher how jobs and working families would depart from the County should new CAO regulations be adopted. Their evidence stems from the assumption that real-estate values will generally decline. Economic forces have already lowered property values, which could actually make housing more affordable for working families. Ignore the card, the sky is really not falling.

San Olson

Lopez Island