EPRC Open House greets public Dec. 8

Members of the public swarmed the various community agencies at the Eastsound Planning Review Committee’s Open House on Dec. 8.
Snippets of information heard while browsing the various displays were:
* Stormwater — The county’s stormwater utility will undertake two projects in Eastsound next year (2009). Improved drainage from the Mount property (approximately behind the Seaview Theater to the Outlook Inn) to the outfall into East Sound on the beach by the Outlook, will be undertaken, and due north, at the opposite end of the Orcas Island “neck,” the outfall at North Beach will also be addressed. That outfall will be impacted by the 10 new houses being built off Mt. Baker Road by OPAL.
* County Development and Planning — CDPD Director Ron Henrickson said that the Growth Management Hearings Board decision on the Eastsound Sewer and Water District Capital Facilities Plan is expected within the next week. Henrickson also said that there will be two hearings on the affordable housing element of county compliance with the Growth Management Act in January. Henrickson again expressed the opinion that failure to be in compliance may result in an order of invalidity, which would halt new development.
*Eastsound Sewer and Water District continues to explore the use of land adjacent to its facilities off North Beach Road, in the eventuality that its treatment facilities will expand.
* Orcas Pathways continues to work with the County Land Bank to develop a trail from Crescent Beach to Buck Park, and proposes a trail along Enchanted Forest Road.
*Eastsound Water Users Association has purchased land near the north end of Blanchard Street as a possible desalinization plant. EWUA is monitoring wells in Eastsound to determine capacity and quality of the Eastsound aquifer, from which half of our drinking water comes. EWUA also has an agreement with the Orcas Island School district whereby the school can use up to 75 gallons per minute of water, or four million gallons, until EWUA needs that water.
* Land Conservation District offers advice to property owners as to the best way to develop private land, taking into account water resources and topography.