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About the Open Space Amendment

snoqualmie_midfork Residents will have a chance to vote this November on a proposed charter amendment that would provide enhanced protection for more than 156,000 acres of open space land that is either owned or held in a conservation easement by King County.

The Metropolitan King County Council placed the Open Space Preservation Amendment on the ballot based on the recommendation of the King County Charter Review Commission, a group of citizens appointed to review and recommend changes to the King County Charter every 10 years. The Charter is the basic structural document of the King County government, similar to a constitution.

The proposed “Open Space Amendment” (OSA) or “Open Space Preservation Act,” would prohibit changes in the allowable use, sale, or transfer of specially inventoried open space lands that are owned in fee or in easement by King County government. This prohibition against the change of use, sale or transfer of such lands allows for a few exceptions (for example, transfers between governmental agencies, utility projects, habitat restoration). Specific properties protected by the amendment were chosen for their high value in safeguarding the county’s many natural resources, habitat, recreation opportunities, and rural economy.

The King County Council could remove lands from the adopted inventory only by a supermajority of seven affirmative votes out of the nine council members. A supermajority vote would likewise be required to add lands to the list, such as recently acquired conservation lands.

The proposed amendment strengthens protections against the sale or transfer of protected properties by the county, and it permanently preserves the conservation-oriented uses of the lands by precluding any change in the uses allowed at the time of acquisition.

The proposed amendment does not require the purchase of new land. King County already owns the proposed OSA-protected land or the development rights to the land, and there are no direct costs associated with the proposed charter amendment.

Related information:

Endorsements

To date, the following organizations have endorsed the Open Space Amendment:

  • Conservation Northwest
  • Enumclaw Forested Foothills Recreation Association (PDF)
  • Futurewise (PDF)
  • Issaquah Environmental Council (PDF)
  • King County Conservation Voters (PDF)
  • League of Women Voters of Seattle and South King County (PDF)
  • Middle Green River Coalition (PDF)
  • Mountains to Sound Greenway (PDF)
  • Partnership for a Rural King County (link)
  • Sierra Club Cascade Chapter (PDF)
  • Upper Bear Creek Unincorporated Area Council (PDF)
  • Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition (PDF)
  • Water Tenders (PDF)

Open Space Amendment Resources