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Washington State Residents Against Casino Plan

LAKE STEVENS, Washington – As reported by the Seattle Times: "In a subdivision off Highway 9, kids play baseball in the street. In a casino a few hundred yards away, adults play blackjack.

"Neighbors say that's too close.

"The dispute has shed light on a county ordinance that allows 'incidental' uses in businesses. Residents of town houses adjacent to the new Highway 9 Casino and Restaurant were expecting only a new restaurant.

"It's a 'loophole' that Snohomish County Councilman Jeff Sax, R-Snohomish, said he will try to fix. Under the current county code, any business can have an incidental use as long as it takes up fewer square feet than the primary use. In this case, the casino is smaller than the restaurant. It's the same rule that allows a gas station to set up an espresso counter without a new business license, Sax said.

"Now that the casino is in, there isn't much residents can do.

"..In a heated meeting with Sax and the property's developer last week, residents said they were worried about their property values, their parking and their safety if a fire or other emergency happened in their neighborhood.

"The developer, Pat McCourt of Barclays North, which gave $600 to Sax's 2001 council campaign and has made a $500 donation to his 2005 re-election campaign, agreed to add a stop sign, improved lighting and a higher fence to block the parking lot from adjacent yards.

"…Sax said campaign contributions don't affect his decisions…"

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