If you are looking at homes on Lake Sammamish and considering building, you really need to learn the details of the Critical Areas Ordinance for the jurisdiction in which the property lies - each city writes it’s own ordinance to comply with The Growth Management Act. The communities of South Lake Sammamish became part of the City of Issaquah last fall and will now be governed by it’s policy rather than King Counties.  Below is article they (South Lake Sammamish Homeowners) sent out in their newsletter.
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The King County Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), which had silently taken effect for Lake Sammamish shoreline in 2005, expired upon our annexation to Issaquah. To comply with state law, the city is now working on drafting a new CAO.

The goals of the CAO will be to protect Lake Sammamish water quality, which is threatened by phosphorous and chemical run-off, to improve habitat for salmon and other wildlife, and to reduce danger from flooding.

The city is attempting to draft a CAO which protects the lake environment while fully considering the realities of existing suburban development. Notably, Issaquah’s entire shoreline is already developed with the exception of three vacant lots.

While the county had imposed a 130 foot building set back, the city recognizes that existing homes are typically just 50 feet from the water. So, the city considering a plan which would establish a 35 foot buffer from the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) plus a 15 foot building setback from that buffer. In the case of new development, homeowners would be required to leave the buffer in a natural state and planted with native vegetation.  Existing homeowners would be grandfathered, but could be asked to perform buffer “improvements” as mitigation for certain permit applications, such as bulkhead or dock changes or home expansion. 

Some homeowners, such as me (David Bangs), have expressed the concern that such regulations could turn out to be inflexible and frustrating for homeowners while also taking a very long time to improve the lakeshore. So, planning department director Mark Hinthorne agreed to hold a couple of meetings with a group of lakeshore homeowners to discuss alternative ideas, such as education, assistance and incentives to encourage lakeshore improvements.

 

The city has is committed to involving effected homeowners in this process.  All lakeshore residents will receive mailings notifying them of upcoming public meetings.  The city hopes to have the new CAO adopted by the end of March 2007.