Letters to the editor
Published on Wed, Jun 8, 2011Read More Letters
Bike safety, to clarify
In response to the informative article on bicycling by Mr. Tom Coonelly (“Staying safe aboard bikes,” June 1, page A-16, Sequim Gazette), I would like to add:
Under “Know the laws,” Mr. Coonelly may be implying, when stating that cyclists should “Use the shoulder,” that the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) requires bicyclists to use the shoulder. It does not. In fact, cyclists have four choices — unless signed otherwise:
They may ride in the travel lane, in a bike lane, on a designated path, or on the shoulder (outside the edge/“fog” line). The cyclist makes the decision — based on conditions and what seems safest (RCW 46.61.770).
Local governments, of course, may adopt ordinances restricting cycling on specific roads.
Bicycling is prohibited on designated sections of our state’s limited access highway system.
Within “Do’s and do not’s: on the road,” Mr. Coonelly writes that it is illegal to ride on Sequim sidewalks.
City of Sequim Municipal Code Chapter 10.21 states that cycling on city sidewalks is prohibited in the “pedestrian friendly zone” — also known as “the downtown core.” Riding elsewhere on city sidewalks is permitted, but cyclists must yield to pedestrians.
“Always ride with traffic.” Absolutely. All vehicles must travel in the direction of traffic. You can be ticketed if going the wrong way. Should you be involved in an accident, you may find yourself sharing culpability, at fault or dead. Do it to the best of your ability: follow the law.
(By the way, the widened chip seal area on the east side of Kendall Road is a shoulder —not a bike path. Some cyclists, especially children, ride there against traffic — perhaps feeling safer than jockeying with eager drivers in the narrow southbound lane. Please, take special care there.)
“Be aware of your surroundings (ditch the ear buds).” This may sound like a strong suggestion; it is not. It is the law (RCW 46.37.480, paragraph 2).
I thank Mr. Coonelly for taking the time to write and the Gazette for offering the large space to improve bicycle-driver safety and awareness.
It is my experience that there is adequate space on the road for all of us — if we know and follow the rules, exercise care and caution, and are patient.
Cherie Pickett
Sequim
Sequim City Manager Steve Burkett and some members of the City Council have said that $5,000 in added cost from impact fees will not deter anyone from buying a new home. They attribute the current slow permit activity entirely to the economy.
While the economy is clearly impacting permit activity, the effect of the added fees is they will defer the recovery. This is due to the gap between the price of available homes and the cost of building a new home. For example, to build and sell a new spec home in Sequim with 2,000 square feet it will need to sell at a price around $320,000. The median price in the Sequim market as of the end of 2010 was $243,750. As long as the gap is that wide then the prospective buyer is incentivized to buy an existing home. The result is low permit activity.
I searched for active listings in Sequim with a minimum of 1,900 square feet and found 39 homes for sale. The average price of those homes is $259,000. So the resale homes are selling at a 20-percent discount to cost of a new home. My point is that the longer it takes for the average resale price to close the gap between resale prices and the cost of new homes, then the longer time for job recovery, the longer city revenues are impacted, the longer the property tax rolls stagnate, the longer new construction sales tax revenue is lost and the longer the stress on builders, their suppliers of materials, the title companies, the loan originators and all the other services. The cumulative negative impact is significant.
The City of Sequim impact fees round out to $5,000 but when you consider the cost of funds at 7 percent (loan fee + interest), realtor fee 5 percent, excise tax 1.86 percent, builder overhead 5 percent and some allowance for builder profit that adds a 25-percent premium to the cost, or $6,250. That $6,250 makes the gap greater and therefore delays the recovery for new permit activity.
The city, according to the current proposal, is considering a 90-day suspension of the fee (or half the fee, not sure). With the current gap between the price of resale homes and cost of new homes, any impact fee reduction is not likely to help over the next few months. If that proves to true then the city impact fee advocates likely will use that information to “prove” their argument that lowering the fee has no impact on permit activity. With that logic then let’s just raise the fee to $100,000 since cost is not a deterrent to permit activity.
Greg McCarry
In response to the informative article on bicycling by Mr. Tom Coonelly (“Staying safe aboard bikes,” June 1, page A-16, Sequim Gazette), I would like to add:
Under “Know the laws,” Mr. Coonelly may be implying, when stating that cyclists should “Use the shoulder,” that the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) requires bicyclists to use the shoulder. It does not. In fact, cyclists have four choices — unless signed otherwise:
They may ride in the travel lane, in a bike lane, on a designated path, or on the shoulder (outside the edge/“fog” line). The cyclist makes the decision — based on conditions and what seems safest (RCW 46.61.770).
Local governments, of course, may adopt ordinances restricting cycling on specific roads.
Bicycling is prohibited on designated sections of our state’s limited access highway system.
Within “Do’s and do not’s: on the road,” Mr. Coonelly writes that it is illegal to ride on Sequim sidewalks.
City of Sequim Municipal Code Chapter 10.21 states that cycling on city sidewalks is prohibited in the “pedestrian friendly zone” — also known as “the downtown core.” Riding elsewhere on city sidewalks is permitted, but cyclists must yield to pedestrians.
“Always ride with traffic.” Absolutely. All vehicles must travel in the direction of traffic. You can be ticketed if going the wrong way. Should you be involved in an accident, you may find yourself sharing culpability, at fault or dead. Do it to the best of your ability: follow the law.
(By the way, the widened chip seal area on the east side of Kendall Road is a shoulder —not a bike path. Some cyclists, especially children, ride there against traffic — perhaps feeling safer than jockeying with eager drivers in the narrow southbound lane. Please, take special care there.)
“Be aware of your surroundings (ditch the ear buds).” This may sound like a strong suggestion; it is not. It is the law (RCW 46.37.480, paragraph 2).
I thank Mr. Coonelly for taking the time to write and the Gazette for offering the large space to improve bicycle-driver safety and awareness.
It is my experience that there is adequate space on the road for all of us — if we know and follow the rules, exercise care and caution, and are patient.
Cherie Pickett
Sequim
Deferring recovery
Sequim City Manager Steve Burkett and some members of the City Council have said that $5,000 in added cost from impact fees will not deter anyone from buying a new home. They attribute the current slow permit activity entirely to the economy.
While the economy is clearly impacting permit activity, the effect of the added fees is they will defer the recovery. This is due to the gap between the price of available homes and the cost of building a new home. For example, to build and sell a new spec home in Sequim with 2,000 square feet it will need to sell at a price around $320,000. The median price in the Sequim market as of the end of 2010 was $243,750. As long as the gap is that wide then the prospective buyer is incentivized to buy an existing home. The result is low permit activity.
I searched for active listings in Sequim with a minimum of 1,900 square feet and found 39 homes for sale. The average price of those homes is $259,000. So the resale homes are selling at a 20-percent discount to cost of a new home. My point is that the longer it takes for the average resale price to close the gap between resale prices and the cost of new homes, then the longer time for job recovery, the longer city revenues are impacted, the longer the property tax rolls stagnate, the longer new construction sales tax revenue is lost and the longer the stress on builders, their suppliers of materials, the title companies, the loan originators and all the other services. The cumulative negative impact is significant.
The City of Sequim impact fees round out to $5,000 but when you consider the cost of funds at 7 percent (loan fee + interest), realtor fee 5 percent, excise tax 1.86 percent, builder overhead 5 percent and some allowance for builder profit that adds a 25-percent premium to the cost, or $6,250. That $6,250 makes the gap greater and therefore delays the recovery for new permit activity.
The city, according to the current proposal, is considering a 90-day suspension of the fee (or half the fee, not sure). With the current gap between the price of resale homes and cost of new homes, any impact fee reduction is not likely to help over the next few months. If that proves to true then the city impact fee advocates likely will use that information to “prove” their argument that lowering the fee has no impact on permit activity. With that logic then let’s just raise the fee to $100,000 since cost is not a deterrent to permit activity.
Greg McCarry
President, Westerra Homes, Sequim
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Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words may be shortened. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.
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