Protester Says City Attorney Violated Mercer Island Codes

A Mercer Island man who has been at odds with Mercer Island city officials for months says the home the city attorney is building on the island violates zoning regulations.

To make his point, Mark Meadows hired pickets from Seattle missions to demonstrate yesterday afternoon outside City Hall and City Attorney Ron Dickinson's new home.

But City Manager Paul Lanspery said in a letter to Meadows yesterday that, after investigating the charge, a city planner and an outside attorney retained by the city had found Dickinson's home meets code requirements.

``It would appear (Meadows and his allies) are not really interested in understanding the technical issues they themselves have raised,'' said Lanspery. ``I welcome an opportunity to sit down with them and go through this.''

The city received a letter from Meadows and Ben McIndoe March 2 charging that Dickinson's home violated lot area, lot-coverage and setback requirements of the zoning code.

McIndoe, who with Meadows has formed a group called Very Concerned Citizens, said yesterday that he and Meadows had received Lanspery's letter before they brought in the pickets.

``I don't know if it answers our questions,'' McIndoe said. ``I tried to call (the outside attorney) to clarify his opinion but couldn't reach him.''

What Very Concerned Citizens wants, McIndoe added, is for the city to order work halted on Dickinson's home pending a legal

determination as, he contends, the city has ordered for other projects.

Meadows hired men from Seattle's Millionair Club last fall to picket Mercer Island City Hall after he was denied a building permit.

Meadows said he hired pickets yesterday ``because lots of people who have complaints against the city are afraid of retaliatory action. The people who live near Dickinson are scared to death. They want to stay anonymous and still support us.''