The Washington Supreme Court permanently ordered the state from permitting public access to Ames Lake and its property. The idea was that the state be restricted from using the property for other than residential purposes.
The Plat of Ames Lake, an addition to King County, Washington, included the lake and all the property immediately adjacent to it. The lake itself was Lot A and around it were Lots 159 inclusive.
Community lots
Lots B, C, D, and E were interspersed at intervals among these lots, which also abutted the lake. They couldn’t be sold, as they gave owners of lots with no convenient lake frontage to access the lake.
A second tier of lots, 160 to 279, were separated from the waterfront lots by a 60-foot roadway designated “Scenic Blvd.” It went entirely around the lake.
The Plat contained the following statement: As shown on the Plat Lots designated as “A” which is Ames Lake, and B, C, D, and E, are the undivided and common property of the owners of all Lots in this Plat. The development, maintenance, and upkeep of A, B, C, D, and E are a joint obligation of said lot owners and subject to such rules and regulations governing same.
