Week 1

We're just getting started on our house build project. Last Friday we obtained mutual acceptance on an offer for a 5.11 acre lot in North Bend, Washington. The lot is heavily treed, mostly with mature Alders, but there are also some very nice Maples. We'll probably harvest the Alders - they're commercial grade - to help pay for some of the excavation costs. We wish it had more Douglas Fir and/or Cedar trees.

The lot has magnificent views of Mt. Si and the Cascades. The county - King County - requires that a Critical Areas Designation (CAD) review of the property be conducted before permits can be issued. The CAD process is controversial in these parts because it essentially allows the county to identify areas (wetlands, etc) to control where you can build. It restricts you to only clearing a max of 35% of your land - of course you get to pay full taxes on it!

I sent the CAD application and the $770 deposit to have a county environmental scientist walk the land and produce a CAO Letter which tells me if and where I can build on the property. They bill their "scientists" at $140/hour - what a money maker for the county! I estimate they'll suck around $2000 from me before they issue the CAO Letter. If they find too many critical areas on the lot, preventing me from building in an area that gives me the best mountain views, I'll back out of the purchase and look for a different lot.

I found out a couple days ago that there's North Bend City water available to the lot (it's not in the city boundaries though - just in the water service area). Problem is, though, there's a moratorium on new connections. It might get lifted at end of the year, in which case I can connect for $2760 - there's also an ordinance in the works to charge an additional $2450. It'd be nice if the moratorium was lifted and I got in before the new ordinance kicks in - not likely!

I am trying to find out if they will let me drill a private well, even though city water is available - I'd like to have the option because then I'd be sure to have water available. You can't get a building permit without running water.

I'll start scanning photos of the land plat, house plans etc and post them next week.