Joyce, 648 Walnut 11-18-11.pdf121 5th AVENUE NORTH < EDMONDS, WA 98020 a (425) 771-0220 o FAX (425) 771-0221
Website: www.dedmondsma.us
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Inc. 1890
November 18, 2011
Richard Darrell Joyce
648 Walnut St.
Edmonds, WA. 98020
Case: # COD2011-0294
Subject Property: 648 Walnut St., Edmonds, WA. 98020
Dear Mr. Joyce,
MIKE COOPER
MAYOR
The City has received a complaint regarding a junk vehicle, nuisance items (trash, garbage, debris), rodent infestation, a
possible dangerous building and uncultivated berry vines exceeding 3 feet in height at the subject property.
Nuisances are defined as follows:
Edmonds City Code 6.20.041 The following nuisances are aesthetic in nature and can negatively impact neighborhood
property values and foster blight. The following actions and/or conditions shall be a public nuisance when located in
any front, side or rear yard or vacant lot.
A. Any junk, trash, or litter,
B. Salvage materials or lumber not neatly stacked
C. Any broken, soiled or discarded furniture, household equipment or furnishings.
D. Any junk vehicle, vehicle parts or other articles of personal property which are stored, discarded or left in
a state ofpartial construction or repair.
G. Exceptions. The nuisances enumerated in subparagraphs A through D shall not apply to items or materials
when:
1. Wholly enclosed within a building; or
2. Located in a rear yard and screened from adjacent properties and the public right of way by a six-foot
opaque fence or by a vegetative barrier that is between six feet and eight feet in height and provides a visual
barrier equivalent to an opaque fence. Corner lots which have no rear yard may establish a screening area
which qualifies for this exception in a side yard.
The current Junk vehicle criteria (effective 1/10/09) is as follows:
"Junk vehicles" are defined in ECDC 6.20.020.E as a vehicle meeting any two of the following requirements:
"Junk vehicle" means a vehicle meeting any two of the following criteria:
1. Is extensively damaged, including but not limited to any of the following conditions: a broken or missing
windshield or missing wheels, tires, motor or transmission;
2. Is apparently inoperable;
3. Is without valid current registration plates.
4. Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.
F. "Inoperable" with respect to a vehicle means that the vehicle is incapable of being legally operated on a
public roadway due to the condition of the vehicle or the status of the ownership, registration, or license of
the vehicle.
According to current code, vehicles outside a legal structure are required to be currently licensed or are considered
a junk vehicle. A vehicle is not considered junk if it is currently licensed although it may not "run".
Incorporated August 11, 1890
Sister City - Hekinan, Japan
Jowe. 648 Wahnit. C01)20t 1-0294
6.20.043 Protective coverings.
Except as otherwise expressly;provided by applicable city ordinance or a valid regulatory permit, any condition
enumerated in ECC 6.20.040 shall constitute a public nuisance irrespective of whether such condition is covered in
whole or in part by a tarpaulin, vapor barrier, canvas or plastic sheeting, or other temporary covering.
The Edmonds City Code (ECC) addresses certain vegetation and uncultivated berry vines as follows:
ECC 6.20.042 Health and safety nuisances.
The following actions or conditions have a direct impact on public health and are declared to be public nuisances.
A. Vegetation. The following actions and/or conditions shall be public nuisances:
2. Any violation of the noxious weed provisions of Chapter 6.30 ECC and/or any uncultivated berry vines and Class B
or Class C noxious weeds (as classified by the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board) which exceed an
average of three feet in height and any portion of which are located within five feet of an adjacent Property.
It appears that the rear accessory building may be a dangerous building. The roof and walls appear to be under stress
and deteriorated. It was not possible to positively determine a dangerous building code violation because of viewing
the building from the public way and the abundance of blackberries. Once the blackberries have been cut back or
removed, the City is requesting your permission to enter the property to inspect the accessory building. The inspection
will determine if structural defects exist or additional investigation is required to make such determination. Or, you
may choose to enlist the services of a professional engineer to make such inspection on your behalf. If you choose this
option the engineer shall submit a written report with the findings. Any noted repairs identified by either the City
Building Inspector or your private engineer shall require a building permit to correct.
Corrective actions required:
® Please contact me by December 5, 2011 to convey your compliance plan. An Order to Correct Violation
Notice is issued if no contact is made.
® Please remove any nuisance items from outside the house by December 15, 2011.
® Please obtain a current license for each outside vehicle at the property or remove the vehicle by December
31, 2011.
® Please remove the uncultivated berry vines at the subject property to a minimum height of three feet and
remove any portion located within five feet from adjacent property lines by December 31, 2011. You are
encouraged to cut back the blackberry vines completely or in excess of the minimum to avoid having to
repeat this action in the near future. Please note that if there is a rodent infestation within the blackberries
and accessory building, appropriate health and safety precautions should be implemented during blackberry
removal.
® After the blackberries are cut back or removed, please arrange for an inspection of the back accessory
building by January 15, 2012.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and assistance. Please call me at 425-771-0220 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mike Thies
Code Enforcement Inspector
thies@ci.edmonds.wa.us
C. Building Official
990 Chimacum Rd., Port Hadlock, WA