October 2005 Edition Land Surveying Boundary Line Adjustment Changes Adopted By Mike Pattison, Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties Snohomish County property owners will find it easier to create boundary line adjustments because of a recently adopted ordinance championed by The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. MBA and several of its members had long sought changes to the BLA process, where irregular or difficult lots are reconfigured for better use. Emboldened by the Washington State Supreme Court Crispin decision, MBA staff went to work in early 2004 promoting changes to the County code. The Court had ruled that BLAs are exempt from regulation unless they either (1) create more lots than previously existed, or (2) create lots which contain "insufficient area and dimension to meet minimum requirements for width and area for a building site." Despite what MBA considered a clear legal standard, the County Planning Department was initially unwilling to make any substantive changes to the existing code. MBA then pressed the issue with elected officials resulting in unanimous "yes" votes at the Planning Commission and the County Council. Executive Aaron Reardon signed the measure on July 17th, bringing to a successful conclusion sixteen months of lobbying the issue. Key changes to the BLA code include: *  Allows multiple BLAs to be submitted under a single application. *  Removes percentage requirements regarding lot size expansion and footprint requirements. *  Removes "narrow strip" restrictions. *  Reduces notification requirements. Harmsen News AGC Blue Angels Cruise Amid the ooh's and ah's and squeals of children and adults alike a capacity boat viewed the Blue Angel's aerobatic performance over lake Washington at the Seattle District's 2n annual Blue Angels cruise. The Argosy Celebration left the AGC dock and cruised out through Lake Union and the Montlake Cut into Lake Washington to join the flotilla of boats assembled to watch the performance. Kudos' to captain Tim for picking a spot directly under their flight path. (We will worry about the ear plugs next year.) Truly a happening, you had to wonder if anyone was working on this beautiful sunny day. Much thanks to our sponsors for helping make it such a memorable event: The Blue Book, Harmsen and Associates, Lovsted Worthington Insurance, Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel and URS Corporation. Quote of the Month "The man who does not make any mistakes does not usually make anything." -William Connor Magee - Irish clergyman Harmsen & Associates Inc 17614 West Main Street Monroe, WA 98272 360.794.7811 info@h-ai.com This message has been sent to those who have either listed with Harmsen & Associates, Inc. at www.h-ai.com as someone who has expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information, are fellow members of professional organizations, or have an existing client relationship with us. If you have received this message by mistake or wish to be removed from the list, please send a message to info@h-ai.com with "unsubscribe newsletter" as the subject. If you have any questions about H&AI's privacy policy, please direct them to info@h-ai.com.