5610 S 3RD AVE 2016-01-01 MF Import

Gladys M. Bismore 5603 So. Third Ave. Everett, WA. 98203 Augusi 30, 1996 Mayor Ed Hansor. City of Everett 30�2 Wetmore Ave. Everett, WA. 98201 Dear P,�ayor Hanson: ��anr� p SEP - 3 1996 D CITY OF EVERETT Public Works Dept. � �. ��.� �. �.A�en.y � . This is the first time I have written a letter oi complaint to the City of Everett. However, I do not feel I can let these issues go wi;hout expressing some de=p concerns. I have lived in Everett most of my lif2. During thesz years, I have felt ;here was much to be proud of in our City, its leaders and policies. Now, I am embarrassed, appalled and angry! I have heard it said that the attitude of government workers reflects the attitudP of its leadership. I work in aovernment and with other governmental aaencies and believe this to be true. In this case, you and the City Council are that leadership and, ii you are not aware of the problems in some of your departments, you should be! My main concern at the moment is with your planning and building departments. We have a developer building seven houses across the street from our home. We had been told previously that building on that property was restricted because of the stream that runs through the lots and the underground springs located throughout the property. In `act, ihe owner of this property applied for and was oranted a lower assessment for taxes on the property because of the wetland category as recently as February 1996. We did some research and found that, indeed, there was a fifty foot buffer around the s;ream. I am working with a non-profit organization that provides emergency, transitional and permanent housina for iow income person who has a similar situation in the City. They must abide by the fifty foot buffer. However, your Pianning Director aranted a waiver to twelve and a half feet to the developer. When we pointed out the builders were pushing even that buffer, we were told "Well, he's already put in the footings. We can't very well make him take them out." When I asked, "Why not?", there was no response. There was no notice to the neighborhood about a possible variance nor that building was to take place. The only reason we were given for granting the buffer was "we really have to allow people to build on their property." No building permit has been posted. When I asked about that, they said, "Well, we can't make them post the permit - people will just steal it and then we have to issue another copy." A copy of the permit in the file has (in large lelters) the instruction that the permit must be posted. I do compliance work and, if a contractcr does not comply with regulations, my job is to make him comply. D�es the City not believe in making people comply with the rules? If