It’s also known as “Cap & Trade” and is supposed to reduce Washington’s carbon footprint to 50% below 1990 levels by 2050.  Whether or not you believe that CO2 is a threat, this bill would change your life if it passes.

Here are some of the highlights according to an analysis by Representative Matt Shea:

• New Taxes, lots of them!
• Tolling the I-90 bridge with the fund going to reducing greenhouse emissions, not transportation infrastructure.
• Mandates reduction in vehicle miles driven for both commercial and private vehicles (pay as you drive/don’t drive).
• Creates what appears to be stringent rent control regarding new buildings.
• Fully incorporates “green building codes” at an enormous upfront cost to builders and new home buyers.
• Implementation of “complete street principles” increasing the cost of transportation projects.
• Severely limits use and disposal of real property.

 Those are just some of the highlights of this bill.  Certainly this bill would impact real estate as well as almost every other aspect of trying to live and make a living in the State of Washington.  A hearing was held that started already, at 8:00 a.m. this morning.  However, you can still provide feedback to your legislature and others.  You can phone call the legislative hotline number at (800) 562-6000 to call and express your viewpoint.  The website to find your legislator’s contact information is at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

So, I’ll tell you about it!  Last year in Washington, 47,558 single and multi-family permits were issued.  This year only about 35,000 permits will be issued.  So far thoughout the year, there are 12,536 fewer building permits than it did in 2007.

Each permit for a single family home averages $22,749 in state and local taxes and fees as well as 2.84 jobs per home.  The total jobs and revenue lost by this analysis show -31,489 jobs and -$246,715,860.

The drop in building permits represents more than a decrease in new houses.  It is a drop in income, jobs and tax revenues as well according to the BIAW.

I met with Ron Tate and Mary Pat Scofield at Bear Mountain Ranch this week. I knew that Bear Mountain Ranch is a beautiful project, but felt remiss in that I really didn’t know what was happening up there these days. So, I went to find out.

What I saw is that I really had no idea how much the Bear Mountain Ranch project entails. I learned a bunch. 

This year will mark the first year that they have offered the Private Residence Club at Bear Mountain Ranch. This is a fractional ownership opportunity for 1/8 share (6 weeks per year) in 2-story single-family style homes. This is a deeded equity ownership that allows the flexibility of scheduling any of the homes in the Club and use of the amenities of the resort development.

Also new this year is the Beach Club at Bear Mountain Ranch. This is a Lake Chelan beachfront for exclusive use of Bear Mountain Ranch residents and guests at the old Lafferty boat house. 

Bear Mountain Ranch is a roughly 6000 acre project bordered by public lands and is a family owned project. The family owned aspect is important in that it is a very visionary project with a much longer term plan than most resort properties. Typical developments usually look to sell through their product over a very short term. Since Jerry Scofield amassed the properties for the Bear Mountain Ranch project over the last 40 or so years, they can be more patient than a developer who is financing a larger portion of their project and would have bought their land at recent higher prices.  Pictures of the project and golf course are also available here as well on their web site here. 

 Bear Mountain Ranch is a master planned residential/resort community—which includes the 20 acre parcels in Hawk’s Meadow and Hawk’s Ridge, the awarding winning golf course and single family lots/homes on the golf course side. Hawk’s Meadow Ranch and Hawk’s Ridge have larger, custom home sites with sweeping views of Lake Chelan and the surrounding mountains. So far about a dozen private homes have been built on the golf course side and another dozen or so built on the Hawk’s Meadow and Ridge side of the property. Clos CheValle is a separate development not associated with the Bear Mountain Ranch project.

The west side of the development includes the fabulous Bear Mountain Golf Course. With this being only its fourth year of operation, it was just recognized as one of only 6 favorite new golf courses of PGA professionals in the entire United States in the PGA Professionals Guide to Travel. It is a truly unique setting with lake views from every hole that was laid out in concert with the existing topography.

The homes in Bear Mountain Ranch have a consistent look with a style and architecture fitting to the hills, high desert and life style of Lake Chelan. SKB architects of Seattle designs the homes in Bear Mountain and can work with clients to incorporate their own custom features in their residences. Greg Cowell of Bear Mountain Ranch Custom Homes is the builder.

Even with all the new features, Bear Mountain Ranch is still an agricultural business producing cherries, apples, pluats and wine grapes. Someday a winery is planned to become part of Bear Mountain as well.

The May Chamber after hours will be held at Bear Mountain Ranch on May 15^th. With so much going on at Bear Mountain Ranch, if you haven’t been there in awhile, you owe it to yourself to see all the new changes.  You can also download their brochure here.