FoSV Suggested Approach

 

In late 2018, Friends of Sammamish Valley attempted to work with the County in order to eliminate aspects of the King County Beverage Ordinance #2018-0241 that are most detrimental to farms and rural residents. We set forth detailed changes that were endorsed by many citizens, businesses and organizations. Despite massive opposition from all of us, KC passed the harmful Ordinance on December 4, 2019. Our only alternative is to legally challenge the Ordinance at the WA State Growth Management Hearings Board. The challenge is underway in winter of 2020. For the historical record, we had proposed the following changes to the Ordinance:

1. Remove Demonstration Project Overlays A and B from the Sammamish Valley. The Demonstration Project provisions would permanently allow wine, beer, and liquor sales by the glass and bottle, and one-time permanent permits for special event centers in the Rural Area. The Overlays...

  • Overwhelm already crowded rural roads.

  • Directly harm the viability of farmland.

  • Convert affordable housing to bars.

  • Convert landscaped and open space areas to parking lots.

  • Flood farmlands with storm water runoff.

  • Exceed the capacity of septic systems.

  • Prioritize the interests of a few illegal business operators over the legitimate interests of thousands of residents and voters who have chosen a rural lifestyle.

  • Reduce the open, rural nature of the Valley which also benefits urban residents in nearby cities.

  • Reward a handful of illegal business operators over the interests of hundreds of legally operating businesses.

  • Are counterproductive to the wine tourism industry that relies on the bucolic nature of the rural valley and farmlands to draw tourists.

  • Violate numerous state and local regulations including the State Growth Management Act, King County Comprehensive Plan, KC SO-120, and KC Chapter 21A.55.

  • Fail to meet the goals of the King County Action Report dated April 26, 2018.

2. Improve the remaining provisions of the Ordinance.

  • Close loopholes that would allow retail operations to call themselves "wineries," "breweries” or “distilleries” when in fact they produce little or no product on-site. They are essentially bars.

  • Stipulate that “tastings and sales” conducted at beverage production sites are for products made on-site only.

For the complete details, please refer to the Friends of Sammamish Valley Alternative Winery Ordinance and the Rationale for Beverage Ordinance Proposed Changes.