Vote Yes on Charter Amendment #4—High Conservation Value Properties
he Open Space Amendment (OSA) is a proposed amendment to the King County charter that will appear on the November general election ballot. The OSA would provide enhanced protection for approximately 156,000 acres of natural open space owned by the county. These properties are among our most treasured conservation and recreation spaces.
The Open Space Amendment (OSA) is a proposed amendment to the King County charter that will appear on the November general election ballot. The OSA would provide enhanced protection for approximately 156,000 acres of natural open space owned by the county.
These properties are among our most treasured conservation and recreation spaces. County lands to receive additional protection include Squak Mountain/Tiger Mountain Corridor, Cedar River Waterways, Cougar Mountain, the Upper Raging River Forest, and the Snoqualmie Forest.
The OSA would strengthen the protection of these properties by requiring a supermajority vote of the County Council (at least seven of nine affirmative votes) in order for the county to sell, transfer, or expand the uses of these lands. Before a vote is taken, a public hearing would be required, as well as a finding of fact that either 1) the property's conservation value has been degraded, 2) maintaining the property in public ownership is no longer practical, for specific reasons set forth in the ordinance; or 3) overall open space values would be better served by substituting another property.
The properties under consideration are located throughout unincorporated rural King County and are already set aside for conservation. The county already owns the land, or the development rights.
