Last Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Hearing Examiner evaluated a project to install a new connecting line from the county-owned Mount Property (located southeast of the Orcas Athletic Club) to the existing stormwater outfall in front of the Outlook Inn.
This area, often referred to as the “Eastsound swale” was purchased as a treatment area for the stormwater that is generated in the Eastsound core, said Ed Hale, San Juan County Utilities Manager.
The installation of the line is the first step in renovating the area to handle stormwater in the Eastsound basin, said Hale. Plans call for this line to be installed by late summer of this year.
The next step will be to install piping for a new outlet structure in the ponds behind the Outlook Inn to handle their retention, which sometimes results in flooding.
The third step is to direct stormwater from A Street, by Seaview theater, the Post Office and the Athletic Cub into the treatment area.
Engineers have been working on the design for construction of the treatment facility, but according to Hale, they are in the early stages of the plan.
Hale says, “We need to get the design out to the public this year,” and added that his sense is that the public wants less wetland and treatment, and more parking in the area.
The Hearing Examiner’s decision should be rendered in approximately another week, Hale said on Feb. 23.
Julie Thompson of the County Development and Planning Department is the planner assigned to this project.
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