Why won’t those pesky landowners do what the City Council wants? Whose land is it anyway? What right do they have getting in the way of the city fathers’ vision?

Just because their action is legal and conforms to the existing laws doesn’t mean these upstart citizens can do whatever they want.

It shouldn’t matter that the market won’t support what we want built. We want what we want, darn it. Don’t they know how long we’ve worked on this? They must not understand we must have businesses to tax to support our bureaucracy growth?

Guess we’ll just have to step in an declare a moratorium until we can ram through comp plan and zoning code changes.

You’ll find the story here.

Even though the valley soil of Sumner-Puyallup-Fife is much better suited for growing vegetables, small farms used to populate the North Hill of Puyallup (now incorporated into the City of Edgewood). It is the rural character of this island enclave located so close to urban areas and freeways that has made Edgewood a favorite place for those who live here. There still a number of farms in Edgewood, but development is slowly taking its toll.

Lack of sewer availability contributes to the relatively light development density. Nearby Fife and Milton have sewers. New developments there boast of lot sizes in the 5,000 sq ft range. The bulk of Edgewood is now zoned for 2-3 homes per acre. The west side, closest to Milton and I-5 is primarily zoned for 3 units per acre. Land on the east side of Meridian (SR-161) is generally zoned for 4 units per acre.

Locating a quiet acre in Edgewood for sale is a relatively rare (and expensive) find. And sadly, environmental concerns will eventually force the city to incorporate sewers resulting in increased housing density.

According to John, one of the first truck farmers converting from horses lost a bulldozer when the ground swallowed it up. It happened near the intersection of 20th St E and Freeman Rd. It sank and only horses and trucks were available to pull it out. Didn’t work and they lost it.

There was a more recent incident that occurred on the old Ambuel farm property. After the farm was sold, developers almost lost an excavator. A larger excavator was brought in to help remove the original excavator and it too started to sink as well. Finally a large Catapillar Bulldozer was hurried in and managed to pull the other two out.

After a long stretch of hard rain you’ll see many Edgewood residents down at the Milton laundry mat because their septic system is full. Milton is on sewer so doesn’t have the same problems.

Of course, one of the things that makes Edgewood such a desirable place to live is its low density – which is a direct result of having no sewers. When the city incorporated some time back, those pushing for city hood promised ‘no sewers’ because it was understood that would destroy the character of the area. But, you guessed it: Edgewood is now planning on sewers – but ‘only along Meridian’ to support commercial development. Right…

If you’re thinking of buying in Edgwewood, you’ll want to make sure the septic system will handle your needs year round. That, or plan on a supply of quarters.

Edgewood used to be an unincorporated oasis of rural farmland, a plateau of undeveloped land in close proximity to suburbia. Lack of sewer service made development sparse and expensive. Lots of small farms (where I live) and acreage. Things have changed now – not all for the better.

When I used to walk across the street to get the mail, I could stand for half an hour before a car came by. Now I have to wait for half an hour for a break in the traffic to get across the street.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the water. Edgewood has some of the best tasting water available anywhere. Mt. View Edgewood Water Company (this link is temporary) is owned by the residents  of Edgewood (you have to be a shareholder to obtain service)  and maintains its own wells. (click here for service area map – 2+MB file)

Best of all, there’s no chemicals added to the water.

A couple of years ago the county or state – I’m not sure which, wanted to force the addition of fluoride so as to comply with some regulation. There was practically an armed uprising and the water remains chemical free.

Be careful when you purchase a home in Edgewood. There’s always a transfer fee for the water share. But most importantly, some water shares are not “attached” to a property and can be sold separately. You could end up buying a home in Edgewood and then have to spend $7000 for a water share that you didn’t count on. Be sure to check your purchase and sale agreement addresses the water share.