Countryman runs afoul of city

Larry Countryman is a bit of a rebel.

"I hate wearing my seat belt," Countryman said. "I do it only because I have to."

That defiant attitude inspired his leap back into Snohomish politics last fall, into a seat on the City Council.

"I think government in general is encroaching on our lives so much now with regulations that are totally unnecessary," said Countryman, who served two terms on the council in the 1970s and 1980s. "I thought maybe I could do something about it by going back into City Council."

Countryman's anti-government streak pits him against the city now. In a dispute over renovations to his bed-and-breakfast inn, the city has ordered him to stop part of the project.

Countryman began his new council term by fighting an expansion in the authority of the city Design Review Board, an entity that checks plans for development and rehabilitation of buildings.

He lost that battle this spring, when the council voted to allow the board to review public-building designs beyond the historic district.

Meanwhile, the matter that was the platform for Countryman's campaign last year remains important to him.

Larry and Sandy Countryman own two homes in Snohomish's historic district that were built in the late 1800s — their inn and a farmhouse next door, which has been under renovation for more than two years.

The Countrymans purchased the Cedar Avenue farmhouse in February 2002 with the intention of turning it into additional lodging for their inn, the Countryman Bed and Breakfast.

Their son and project contractor, Perry Countryman, tore the roof off the building before Larry Countryman initiated the design-review process or applied for a permit.

Since then, the city has issued two stop-work orders: in April 2002, for beginning construction without a permit; and in April 2003, when the inspector noticed construction contrary to the approved plans.

The Countrymans have listed their home, which houses their inn, for sale. They say they've lost income because of the delay in expanding the inn. They have hired an attorney to determine whether they have a case against the city, though they haven't sued.

"In terms of this building inspection, we treat his property as any other property," City Manager Larry Bauman said. "This is not a council-member issue; this is a private-property issue. That's the way it's being treated by the city's permit process."

Because of the Countrymans' potential legal dispute with the city, the City Council held an executive session April 20 to discuss the case, excluding Larry Countryman. It's rare to hold an executive session to discuss a council member, said Chris Lundvall, who is in his fourth term on the council.

Because of the legal ramifications, Lundvall declined to comment on Countryman's specific case.

"If somebody decides to remodel one of the old houses and destroys a bay window or reconfigures a roofline, then that destroys part of the stock of historic architecture," Lundvall said of the design-review process.

An unfinished portion of the building above the Countrymans' three-car garage still sports plywood splinters and piles of insulation. They cannot continue work on the area without resubmitting their plans. Originally, the designs called for an open multiuse space above the garage. Now, the Countrymans have framed the area for two apartments.

Sandy Countryman has been exasperated by the delays in construction.

"That's the attitude of the city, where they have become our adversary, not our advocate," she said.

Bauman disagrees. Actions taken by the city staff were in accordance with the permit process, he said.

"The primary issue was conducting a major remodel of the building without a permit," Bauman said.

"We've tried to work in a collaborative way with the Countrymans on this project. That's something we would do for any property owner. We are trying to solve problems, not create them."

The Countrymans' list of complaints about the city is long, from the number of parking spots required to a fire-alarm system the Countrymans don't want to install.

"I couldn't beat City Hall, so I joined them, and it doesn't seem to do any good, either," Larry Countryman said.

"Two years and four months is just too long to have to fight City Hall. To have enough time to run for office and get elected, that's crazy."

Jennifer Lloyd: 425-745-7809 or jlloyd@seattletimes.com