07/27/2005: "Bahrych Scolds Gaylord"

Bahrych Press Release

The Western Washington Growth Hearings Board has just issued a decision that essentially asks the County, "What is it about "No" that you don't understand?" In November of 2000, the Growth Board found that the County's practice of allowing two houses on every legal parcel was in violation of the Growth Management Act. Six months later, in April of 2001, the same Growth Board ruled that "vested" rights were not changed by this order. This ruling permitted people to continue with their development plans if they had a vested right to build a guest house and a main house.

San Juan County's Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord chose to interpret this statement to mean that anyone with an existing house of 1,000 square feet or less (with a few other conditions) could have the same privilege as someone with a legally "vested" right to build a second house. That is not what the Growth Board meant. That is not what the Growth Board said.

Mr.Gaylord has persisted in his misinterpretation for four years, causing both the Petitioners and the County to spend tens of thousands of County and private tax dollars to litigate the issue.
It was always simple. It still is simple. Vested rights were not affected by the Growth Board's Order. The latest Board Order says that, once more time. It basically restates what was ordered nearly five years ago. This time I trust that the Board's order will be followed.

Lynn Bahrych, attorney for Petitioners
Shaw Island