— by Margie Doyle —
Even on a “small green island” such as Orcas, our population is growing and plans to accommodate housing and traffic dominated the regular monthly meeting of the Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC) on Thursday, March 1.
County Councilman Rick Hughes announced that a letter signed by six property owners along Shaeffer’s Stretch — between Nordstrom Land and Eastman Road — will give the county the right of way along the property line for trails and a bike path. The easements are on the east side of the roadway, County Public Works Manager Russ Harvey announced.
EPRC Co-Chair Margaret Payne brought up the need to revive a bike path committee, which bike shop owner Dan Christofferson and EPRC member Davn Vekved have agreed to co-chair.
Hughes also announced that with the reduced meeting dates of the County Council, he will try to have once a month meeting with the public to address community questions.Hughes also announced that the County Parks Board has two openings.
Erika Shook, County Development Manager announced that the Council will vote on the proposed vacation rental code amendments after a public hearing at the March 13 Council meeting. Shook said the Council had added an enforcement provision for unpermitted vacation rentals, including a penalty for advertising unpermitted rentals.
Shook also said the County Comprehensive Plan land capacity analysis is awaiting completion, pending information from the visitor study information presented to county residents this week. There will be public meetings regarding the Comp Plan beginning this summer, and Shook encouraged people to sign up to get notices through the county website. LINK
Kamin thanked Shook for follow-through on EPRC requests for active code enforcement regarding signs. There will now be quarterly sign “sweeps” to monitor placement of signs on sidewalks and other public property.
Speed Limits
Two changes regarding speed limits in Eastsound were proposed:
1) Enchanted Forest Road from Lovers Lane to View Haven — a speed reduction from 35 to 25 mph. This request came from the County Sheriff’s office.
2) Crescent Beach Drive — a speed reduction from 35 to 25 mph. This request comes from county road crews, and is due to increased pedestrian activity. The average speed of drivers on that stretch of road is now 38 mph, and there is no sidewalk or shoulder on either side of the road for pedestrian safety.
The County Council will air these two proposals at a Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 6 at the County Legislative Building in Friday Harbor.
In EPRC discussion, several in the audience were in favor of a slower limit on Crescent Beach Road, although one person said it would be “tedious” to go 25 mph through the whole stretch of the road from Madrona Street in Eastsound to Country Corner. The County engineer’s report on the proposal does not support reducing speed on either roads.
A motion made by EPRC member Bob Maynard recommending the 25 mph limit for both stretches, was withdrawn for lack of a second to the motion.
Public comments
Sadie Bailey brought up a petition to the County Council to state opposition to Orion Lane being extended to “A” street, which had been proposed to ease traffic congestion on “A” Street. “We wish to protect the rural character, walking trails, trees and safety of our neighborhood,” Bailey said.
In 2013, County Councilman Rick Hughes said of the Orion Lane extension option, “With a school on one side and housing on the other side, I would not be in favor [of that option].” He said last month that he would like to hear from residents of Orion Lane about increased traffic on that street.
Fred Klein said he had been asked by the Odd Fellow Lodge to express concerns about plans for Haven Road, which is currently the subject of proposed parking, sidewalk and traffic restrictions. “Certainly we would like to be collaborators in determining how that road gets dealt with, to provide paving, curbs and sidewalks with no parking presents a grave concern to us.”
EPRC Committees
In EPRC Committee reports, Co-chair Margaret Payne announced for the Open Space committee that County wastewater management is applying for a grant for improved drainage at Crescent Beach.
Fern Street Park between North Beach Road and Prune Alley
Noting that there was consensus by a majority of Eastsound Vision Survey respondents to preserve Fern Street Park as a public square, Payne said that Jim Jonassen has offered design services for the Park.
Dan Christofferson and EPRC Member Dan Vekved are planning a public meeting to determine public interest in an island-wide trails committee. Rick Hughes said that the county’s park and naturalization plan gives a broad approach to development of a trails system, and that “it would be great to have someone to take charge and drive the campaign; I’m happy to work for the whole county, but I want to make sure that there’s public involvement.”
Madrona Point development
EPRC Co-chair Paul Kamin led a discussion of traffic alternatives for Haven Road and Madrona Point. He presented a map of the area that County Engineer Colin Huntemer had prepared, and noted proposals for Haven Road, Harrison Point Road, Westerfeldt Road and Urner Street.
Kamin first addressed the context of the proposals:
1) public works and county engineers recognize the importance of addressing transportation developments on Haven Road sooner rather than later, in light of the difficulties in adhering to an Eastsound-wide application of road standards which include standards for curbs, gutters, sidewalks and road widths
2) the EPRC and the county are charged with looking at potential future growth
3) there is “some urgency to get a plan together [as] the current plan doesn’t meet projected needs.” Currently there are plans for building 20 residential units in the area; its zoning allows for a potential of 70 residential units in the area.
4) Huntemer advanced the proposal forward to streetscapes, relating to a one-way street proposal that was discussed at length at the previous EPRC meeting LINK
5) Kamin adapted Huntemer’s proposal to create the graphic at the EPRC’s monthly meeting on Thursday
Kamin stressed throughout the discussion that the graphic was an attempt to address the issues, not a finalized plan.
The graphs calls for parking on the east side and a sidewalk of the northern portion of Haven Road; further down the road, by the intersection with Harrison Point Road there would be provisions for a two-lane road plus a sidewalk, with no parking on the street. But parking would be accommodated at the county lot across from the county dock at the foot of Haven Road.
Harrison Point Road would be widened to a two-way road with 4-foot gravel shoulder on both side. Traffic could exit onto Westerfelt Road and then to Urner Road. The proposal for Westerfelt is similar, with no sidewalks proposed.
The group was reminded that in the update of the Eastsound subarea plan in 2015, any improvements or developments in the Eastsound Village Residential or Institutional zones calls for street improvements –curbs, gutters and sidewalks — mirroring the commercial core regulations.
Hughes said he was not in favor of two-way traffic on Harrison Point Road, traditionally an unpaved, narrow road. “We’re trying to figure out a solution, such as revoking that language, but development will result in population increase and traffic changes; the current code asks those developing the neighborhood to pay for the infrastructure. The infrastructure that exists out there now isn’t capable of supporting what’s going to be happening out there.”
County Public Works head Russ Harvey explained, “It’s important to understand that improvements will occur as development occurs. We’re trying to address the idea that that area right now is supposed to put streets in like North Beach Road and Main Street. Meanwhile we’re trying to change the law.
Kamin paraphrased previous comments, “We’re trying to suggest, ‘IF you’re going to develop, this is what you’re requirements will be.'”
Removing parking from Haven Rd would like kill the viability of any restaurant in the basement of Odd Fellows being able to survive. It would also mean that there would be no handicapped parking at the Odd Fellows thereby excluding the senior citizens of our community from participating in events there.
I was surprised and disappointed that the motion to reduce the speed limit on Crescent Beach to 25 mph was not seconded at the EPRC meeting. Until a separate, safe trail is established this will remain one of the most hazardous locations for walkers and bikers on Orcas. This especially true during the summer months when families are biking, groups of bikers are headed to Moran, or kayakers are crossing the roadway. So it might take a few extra seconds – it could avoid a future serious injury or fatality.
Kudos to Jeff Otis and Rick Hughes for arguing against “one size fits all” design standards for streets. As Jeff suggested each street needs to be looked at as it’s own unique situation.
Not to mention, also, the river otters that cross the road to get to the water. We need to drive more slowly through there.