To the editor:

I have a question and an opinion I would like to share. First a disclosure: I don’t live within the Langley city limits so the issue does not affect me directly, but the county will be considering the same issue, and that is stormwater fees (taxes?).

The question is, are these fees levied against all parcels within the city whether or not they contribute to the problem?

I’m thinking primarily of the Highlands development off Al Anderson Road. The designer and contractor have gone to the trouble of instituting Low Impact Development (LID), eliminating or minimizing stormwater runoff using rain gardens and bio-swales.

If a property contains all of its stormwater and none of it leaves the property, washing into the streets or streams, it is my opinion they should not be taxed to correct a problem caused by other properties.

I can understand paying taxes for schools even if you don’t have children, as it is for the general good, but in this case there is a very definite cause and effect. Landowners can, and should, do all they can to eliminate the problem such as using permeable paving, directing roof gutters into rain gardens, etc.

Indiscriminately taxing all properties would eliminate the incentive to take care of your own stormwater.

Duke LeBaron

Langley