The Sierra Club's Cascade Chapter and the South King County Group have endorsed King County Charter Amendment 4, on your November ballot. The Open Space Amendment (OSA) will provide enhanced protection for approximately 156,000 acres of natural open space owned by King County.

Through a new section in the county charter, the OSA strengthens protection of certain high conservation value properties by requiring a 28-day public comment period, a hearing in the district in which the property is located, a finding of facts, and a supermajority vote (7 of 9) of the County Council before the property could be sold or tansferred. This public process will help to safeguard our most cherished green spaces for future generations and give us a voice in what happens to them.

These properties are among our most treasured conservation and recreation spaces. County lands to receive additional protection include Auburn, Bass Lake, Black Diamond, Big Spring, Covington, Green River, Kanaskat, Little Soos Creek Wetlands, Lower Newaukum, and Ravensdale Retreat Natural Areas, along with Cougar Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, and Spring Lake/Lake Desire and Sugarloaf Mountain Forest. These are just a few of the properties all over King County.

The properties protected by the OSA are already owned or held in a conservation easement by King County; the amendment involves no new land purchases or direct costs.

The OSA is unanimously supported by the County  Council, Executive, many environmental groups, and community leaders. You can see a full list of endorsements and a complete list of properties, as well as learn about the Open Space Amendment here.

We urge you to vote YES on King County Charter Amendment 4!