EPRC Meet: Council Report and Public Comment

— by Margie Doyle —

At the July 12 meeting of the Eastsound Planning Review Committee, County Councilman Rick Hughes reported:

• The County is starting the budget cycle for next year and will consult with an Eastsound team to review and plan to finish current projects.
• The Washington State Ferries (WSF)Long Range plan is “slowly coming out,” Hughes said, and there should be a hybrid diesel boat within five years, that will be charged while docked and run with diesel engines, which will reduce pollution by the ferries. The Elwa will be out of service until November due to rust.
• The majority of the property owners from Nordstrom lane to Eastman lane on the East of Orcas road have offered access for two lane bike path on their property. Public works is working on a proposal to bring back to property owners to finalize the opportunity.
• In response to a recommendation from John Campbell, Hughes suggested that the EPRC request funding for the EPRC for budget planning and education, such as a planning conference, from Erika Shook, County Planning Director.

Public Access/Comment

• Kathy Ciskowski spoke of starting a conversation about dealing with the growth Eastsound is facing in order to  “see better control over these things that are happening.”
• Tuck Wilson from Portland, Oregon noted that he spends a lot of time at the Orcas airport and asked about the motivation for the master planning at this time; if there has been a survey of the affected property owners that would be touched by the plan; and the timeline for selecting alternatives.
• Orcas Port Commissioner Dwight Guss noted that most of the questions about the Port Master Plan  need to be supported at the public meeting, 3:30pm on Thursday July 26^th, at the fire station.
• Toby Cooper echoed the statements of Kathi Ciskowski and added, “I want to make sure the EPRC is addressing the elements in our vision for tranquility, open space… these things are starting to be at risk…it’s happening fast. We need to address how we’re going to mitigate the planned 50% population growth in Eastsound. I just want to raise this with this committee that I respect and enjoy.”
• Leif  noted that consideration needs to be given to the ramifications of changing the rules. “That’s how we got into problems in the past.”
• Judy Watson said that Brandt’s Landing has approved funds to do an expansion, adding toilet facilities and an office.
• When Guss said that the plan would not affect private property or take away someone’s business, EPRC Co-chair Paul Kamin said that online maps show boundaries that “extend onto people’s property, so I think it’s understandable that people would be concerned.” Guss replied “The FAA is governing what we do…that’s why we’re doing these updates. We have four or five options. Please come to our meeting and let us talk to you on that platform.”
• Sadie Baily said, “We do not have land mass for the growth here. there are a lot of people making decisions who haven’t set foot on these spaces. The swale means so much to some of us… …I want planning to go back into the development department. Trees give us oxygen and take heavy metals out of the air. We need to protect our water…please listen to us.”
• Port commissioner Steve Hopkins advised people to email their questions directly to Tony Simpson, Port Manager or Leah Henderson,Port  Master Plan  facilitator, so they have a chance to respond.  Hopkins added that the July 26 meeting will answer specific questions.