LETTER: CSA Plan’s proposed development will change island

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, November 28, 2017

I would like to offer a different point of view regarding the community plan. I believe the point of it is development.

Development brings big changes. I lost my ability to remain in my home of 20 years because of development brought on in a simple rezone. This is the reason this plan scares me. King County would not put an overlay toward undevelopable wetland properties. Rather they change the plan, which changes the rules. That can include loss of wetlands. I have watched it happen.

Development also changes tax values, which is extremely far reaching. I know this because it pushed me out.

Unless the overlay guarantees it won’t fill 1,500 houses then that is exactly the potential of new homes able to be developed. This would very much impact the water, the roads, the ferries and on and on.

Yes, development is expensive but developers only bear that cost until the project is brought to market which transfers the costs to the buyers and community.

Housing as a market commodity will never be the answer to affordable housing.

Drive on Fauntleroy toward the West Seattle bridge and see how much of the old is gone to make space for the new. Notice how one home becomes one building that can be multiple homes. Research and read how Gig Harbor is fighting with developers. Listen to the Seattle news stories of its affordable housing problem in the midst of massive development. Apply these to Vashon.

Vashon has not seen development, so we might not be aware of its impact. Realize this could be the door opening to a very different Vashon with a fantastic market and an affordable housing problem.

— Judy Wright