Ed Sutton, Eastsound Sewer Commissioner, Mindy Kayl, EPRC Chair, Jon Shannon, County Public Works Director, and Pete Rose, County Administrator, ponder EPRC priorities at the April 2 EPRC meeting.
(Excerpts from this article first published March 20).
At today’s Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC) meeting, members Mindy Kayl, Patty Miller, Bob Connell, Audrey Moreland, Brian Ehrmantraut and Gulliver Rankin discussed their top priorities with County Staff and Council Members Richard Fralick and Gene Knapp.
The priorities had been set at a work session of the EPRC on March 16 from items they’d identified in their chosen areas of concentration in updating the Eastsound Sub-Area Plan.
The group had agreed that their energies will be focused on:
Pursuing the decision for how to best use the Mount Property in the heart of Eastsound (between the Athletic Club and the Outlook Inn); this property has been evaluated for both stormwater and parking uses.
Pursuing the restoration of public access to Madrona Point in conjunction with the celebration of the 20-year anniversary of reclaiming it from a commercial development project (the deed transfer to the Lummi Nation for the property took place on Feb. 17, 1990 — thanks to Bruce Orchid for the clarification, see below in comments);
Completing the streetscape plan which will depict long range plans for sidewalks, curbs and gutters elevations, landscaping, and on-street parking.
In conjunction with the streetscape plan, evaluate section 16.55.130C5 from the Eastsound Subarea plan and recommend any proposed changes. Work with the county to develop a process to ensure that this code is consistently implemented and enforced. This part of the code requires that building owners who plan improvements that cost over $25,000 must put in curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, or pledge to do so in the future. It was agreed that the threshold for triggering 16.55.130C5 was outdated and needs to be brought into 2009 dollars.
The group acknowledged that implementation of this proviso at the time of building is necessary to prevent the higher cost and inconvenience of installing curbs, gutters and sidewalks when it is required.
Housing – the Subarea plan calls for the adoption of a housing element based on analysis of projected population growth and demographic information. This has never been completed for the Eastsound Subarea.
In arriving at their priorities, the EPRC stressed the importance of incorporating outreach in all their efforts, so that community input will be encouraged.
“Our goal for next year should be for us to be a vehicle to execute the community’s priorities,” said Patty Miller.
The EPRC’s discussions were developed in preparation for their next Open House, scheduled for May 4; and to facilitate cooperation with and assistance from the related county departments
The EPRC will hold a work session, open to the public, on April 20, with time and location to be determined.
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I recall that as a County Commissioner in 1989, I voted to prevent development on Madronna Point, That would make it a 20 year celebration!
I recall that as a County Commissioner in 1989, I voted to prevent development on Madronna Point, That would make it a 20 year celebration!