Ever wonder what lies at the bottom of Lake Union. Can you imagine 80 shipwrecks in such a small lake? This video shows a joint survey and the exploration efforts in Lake Union, Seattle, performed by the Maritime Documentation Society, Global Underwater Explorers Seattle, DCS Films and Puget Sound Divers. Using side scan sonar, they have mapped the bottom and discovered numerous wrecks, and even an upside down Buick.
Dear Margaret Glowacki,
Please add these comments to the official record of comments regarding the Final Recommendations for the Shoreline Management Plan.
These comments are directed primarily at those proposed regulations affecting Live-aboards in the Shoreline Management Area. As President of Lake Union Liveaboard Association representing approximately 140 members, these comments are provided to support those members and to encourage the continuation of the liveaboard community.
Comment period too short.
In reviewing the Final Recommendations, we found that there are SIGNIFICANT differences between Draft #2 and the Final Recommendations. While we are cautiously encouraged by some of the changes in the Final Recommendations, we found very quickly that there was a lot of confusion regarding this large, complicated document. With the large number of changes, we feel that there has definitely not been enough time allotted for the community at large to review and analyze this document and to formulate a response. We have 2 recommendations in this regard;
New Liveaboard Regulations / Recreational Vessel definition are inappropriate
The proposals regulating liveaboard use on recreational vessel contains constraints (to define a recreational vessel) that seem inappropriate and irrelevant to the stated purpose of the Shoreline Management Act. These regulations again seem to target a particular SHAPE of vessel, rather than address the use of the vessel. By creating these regulations, DPD has indicated that if you stick to a particular SHAPE, you are golden. This is contradictory to the stated purpose of the Shoreline Master Program. For example, liveaboards that contribute a certain amount, through their liveaboard activities, toward the environmental impact, would continue to contribute the same to the environmental impact on a vessel that meets the stated criteria. Therefore, having the new criteria simply means a different SHAPED vessel contributing the same environmental impact. Once again, the SHAPE of the vessel is restricted, but the activity is not.
Examples of these constraints, which have zero affect on the impact to the environment are:
Based on the SALR, a vessel that is 100 ft long, 10 ft high, and 2 ft wide, would be permitted as a liveaboard, while a vessel that is 40 ft long, 20 ft high, and 20 ft wide, would not be permitted as a liveaboard.
The SALR is NOT a ratio that is used by Naval Architects to determine stability. This is an arbitrary measurement that has no correlation to safety, environmental impact, or determining if a vessel is recreational. This clause was created to eliminate certain shapes of vessels, and is NOT a valid indicator of a vessel being designed as “Recreational”. Given these facts, this clause is discrimination on the basis of SHAPE and SHAPE alone and should be completely stricken.
Please accept my apology over the previous email to the membership. In that email I indicated that existing houseboats would not be grandfathered in under the new proposals. I was mistaken. The regulations are long and confusing and the section 23.60.214 Standards for live-aboard uses on vessels seems to indicate no grandfathering, however, there are 2 sections (23.60.122 Nonconforming uses and 23.60.124 Nonconforming structures) that override the “Standards for live-aboard uses on vessels.”
To be certain of this, I have communicated with Magaret Glowacki at DPD;
All in all, I believe the Lake Union Liveaboard Association, through its active campaign of letter writing, phone calls, and meetings with DPD has been extremely effective in combating the inappropriate proposals contained in Draft #1 and Draft #2. I am extremely appreciative of everyone’s efforts and thank you all for your hard work. There are some remaining issues, however, I believe we were successful in our efforts and this Final Recommendation is a vast improvement over Drafts 1 and 2.
NOTE: There is current litigation that is being based on the wording in Cam-229 indicating that if you live aboard your vessel, that vessel is defined as “Vessel” means ships, boats, barges, or any other floating craft which are designed and used for navigation…” and the owner of the vessels are being challenged to prove their vessel is/has been “used for navigation.” We are strongly recommending that you have pictures / videos, or other documentation of your vessel being used for navigation. To be “Grandfathered” in, you must meet this definition.
Please be sure to forward this email to all of your fellow Live-Aboards. We will be scheduling a General Membership meeting soon.
Thank you for your support.
DPD’s 2nd Draft of the Shoreline Master Program has been published and has serious consequences for Houseboat and Housebarge owners. Please review these proposals very carefully. DPD has indicated the comment period for the 2nd draft will end 12/9/11. We feel this timeframe is unreasonably short, given the major changes between Draft 1 and Draft 2, the holiday period during the comment period, and give the original comment period was significantly longer.
PLEASE LEND YOUR SUPPORT BY SENDING IN YOUR COMMENTS BY 12/9/2011
Send comments to: Maggie Glowacki at margaret.glowacki@seattle.gov or send by regular mail to:
Maggie Glowacki
700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000
P.O. Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019
LULA’s position on these regulations are that they are being applied unfairly by only targeting houseboats and house barges, while allowing unlimited growth of liveaboard vessels and allowing liveaboard vessels to dump grey water unrestricted into Seattle waters.
The LULA board has requested meetings with Margaret Glowacki on multiple occasions and so far we have not been granted a meeting. Why?
LULA has developed an alternative proposal which we believe fairly and reasonably addresses the 2 primary issues (as stated by representatives from DPD and SMP);
Please visit LakeUnionLiveaboard.com for details and to view the Lake Union Liveaboard Association (LULA) alternative proposal.
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After a nearly 4 year hiatus, Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union has stepped up to the plate to offer houseboat lending in the Seattle area. We salute SMCU for embracing this amazing Seattle tradition which truly helps to define the Seattle character. For those thinking about purchasing a Houseboat in Seattle, this is great news.
The program details allow for 75% financing of the combined sales price plus sales tax, 30 year amortization with a 10 year balloon payment, and rates comparable to those for yacht lending. Credit and Income guidelines are similar to those required for purchasing a home. A Marine survey, and haulout is required. Further details can be obtained by contacting Denise Carlson at (206) 398-5581 or by emailing her at denisec@SMCU.com. For a list of available houseboats, please visit Special Agents Realty.
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Check it out!!! 3 Hot New Listings have just been posted on our site. With prices ranging from $195,000 to $395,000, these new choices make Lake Union Living THE place to locate a great houseboat. Don’t forget, we also do other real estate as well. Check out this fantastic 4800 sq. ft. home near Echo Falls.
There is a storm on the horizon that is seriously going to HURT our economy. The new Appraiser rules HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) being imposed are likely going to cause further harm to our economy. Though the concept sounds reasonable – i.e. removing the ability for Loan Originators or Real Estate Agents to choose the appraiser, the effect will be disasterous. The new rules support undervaluing homes simply because an appraiser is chosen by the lender. If the lender chooses an appraiser that provides a consistently lesser value, they win because their asset is worth more than the appraiser indicated. Hence the Lender has less risk.
It is assumed that the evil Loan Originators and Real Estate Agents were able to influence the appraiser into providing over inflated values, however, do you really believe the Lenders are more ethical or that for some reason they do not have a vested interest in getting lower valuations? Give me a break. We’ve seen what the big lenders are capable of doing. That is why according to www.ml-implode.com, 342 lenders have imploded since late 2006 by providing loans to people that should not have received them. So, let’s put the power of choosing appraisers in their unbiased hands!?!
Be prepared to see further (unwarranted) devaluation of homes due to this rule.
Recently, I’ve become addicted to a line of games put out by Game Campus including Shot Online (a wonderful golfing game and online community), and MLB Dugout (a baseball simulation).
MLB Dugout is my most recent addition of games that are free to join and free to play, but offer premium items using “Campus Cash.” The game is fun to play and is a quite realistic simulation. You play against online opponents (you can practice against the computer before taking on the real thing). A major appeal to the game is the online interaction, however, they have not implemented the online community in MLB Dugout as well as they have in their other excellent game “Shot Online.” I suspect this will improve with time.
All in all, MLB Dugout is a fun game and I highly recommend it. Check it out at http://mlbdugoutheroes.gamescampus.com/ and I will see you on the field – My team is the Baggers.
