— from Paul Kamin —
What…a Bridge to Indian Island, a Marina in Fishing Bay and a “Grand Canal” between Crescent Beach and North Beach?
The Eastsound Planning and Review Committee Meeting was packed Thursday afternoon with Orcas Islanders worried about Bridges and Canals. No such plans are on the horizon, so where did all the concern come from?
The source of the Bridge, Marina and Canal concepts was a document titled “Seeking a Vision for Eastsound An invitation to engage”. This document can be found at (www.orcaslibrary.org/docs/vision4eastsound.pdf)
Indeed the document includes a wide range of ideas, specifically included to stimulate discussion, and engagement. On that front, it seems to have been quite successful. Through multiple public meetings over 100 people have “engaged” in considering what Eastsound will look like in 2035 and beyond. Seeking a Vision for Eastsound features dozens of “idea sketches” including those below:
The introduction of this 200 page report included the following “The task group is not advocating for any particular ideas, but rather has viewed its responsibility as one of illustrator of stakeholder ideas and possible consequences. The Group hopes that seeing and understanding these ideas will spawn even better ones.”
County Council Chairman Rick Hughes was present at the February 2nd EPRC meeting and confirmed that the Canal, Bridge and Marina were NOT in any County planning initiatives.
However, this is the time to engage in the process of considering the future of Eastsound. Dozens of volunteers are working on developing a vision for Eastsound that will be incorporated into the County’s process of updating the Eastsound Sub-Area Plan and County Comprehensive plan. It is exciting to think that residents of Orcas Island are being provided the opportunity to participate in crafting the vision, goals, and policies that will shape the future of “our village”.
In 2035 there will not be a bridge to Indian Island or a Canal dividing Orcas into Eastside-Westside. But what will Eastsound look like? Now is the time to be a part of charting this course. The Eastsound Planning and Review Committee will soon be offering additional opportunities to participate in this planning process. This is our chance, stay tuned, and engage.
“Discourse and critical thinking are essential tools when it comes to securing progress in a democratic society. But in the end, unity and engaged participation are what make it happen.”
― Aberjhani, American Veteran, historian, columnist, novelist, poet, and editor
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This visionary plan has left out the much needed addition of a Diamond Point to Olga ferry. Any time Olga Rd is closed half the island is trapped in the parking lot at Country Corner. While that has gotten more pleasant in the last year, this ferry could serve emergency needs and the tourist industry; with appropriate shuttle service it could be a boon to both Olga and Eastsound and cut down on extra cars on the island in the summer.
Do not forget the Dinner/Wine Train from Orcas to Eastsound to Doe Bay…. Swim suits optional.
Also, The under water Clear Plexi-glass Auto Aquarium Hwy to the other islands and Mainland…
Sweet!!!!
Spaceport Orcas – opening soon.
Is the Bridge to Mainland sign still up?
The mainland bridge sign at the “y” (Obstruction Pass turnoff) disappeared…the person who took it has no sense of humor or island whimsey. Thanks to the person(s) who put it up. It made me smile every time I passed it.
The idea a a task group envisioning a future for Eastsound SCARES ME! But comments like those above tell me not to worry! Merry
Special thanks to my friend, Paul Kamin, for his oversight on the commentary that evolves on complex issues of our times. I can always count on Paul to wade through the misinformation and guide us to the reality of each situation.
Thank you for your post, Paul. Separate and apart from the more whimsical visioning ideas you note above, there is still a lot of confusion and apprehension about the proposed mooring buoys in Fishing Bay: Have decisions already been made? If so when and whom? How many will there be — 20, 100? Where? When will the be deployed? What’s the source of funding, and has it already been approved and appropriated? What are the implications for the county dock that’s already there? Have the appropriate environmental studies been done?
The buoys pose real and near-term implications for Eastsound. I’d like to see detailed public discussion of them as soon as possible, and not as part of the visioning exercise.
We heard Rick Hughes say in this meeting “If the community doesn’t want mooring buoys in Eastsound I need to hear from you very soon.”
Visioning for the future has left out the retractable “Sky Bridge”, pedestrian link between Shaw Island and somewhere close to the Orcas ferry dock. Shuttle service from the terminus into E.S. for shoppers.
I think a handful of mooring buoys would be quite helpful in keeping visiting boats from dragging their anchors and disturbing the bottom vegetation and wildlife.
Mentioning the canal, the bridge to Indian Island and “April” the cow statue was (if not stupid) silly. However, there are some aspects in the Vision document that are worthwhile. What’s the downside of a little marine-oriented recreation and commerce in Eastsound? I thought we lived on an island in the middle of the Salish Sea!
I would like to revisit the information given at the meeting regarding the Bridge and Marina in Eastbound. Rick Hughes made a SMALL comment that there WILL be 20 buoys placed in Fishermans Bay. Did you hear that?
Rick what do you have to say about this?
Kim Rose,
As a resident of Olga, which is a small, quiet haven, I resent that you could even suggest a Ferry from Eastsound to Olga. Are you kidding? How would you like to live in a quiet rural location only to have a parade of people drive down your street?
On another subject;
I was at the meeting on Monday regarding the “bridges and docks” in Eastbound. This was presented as a joke to get a large turn-out. It did.
Rick Hughs, You slipped in a small comment about the 20 buoys that are already in the works. I would like you to address this. Why was this not actually discussed?
In the few Visioning Eastsound meetings I’ve attended over the past few months, one of the thing I’ve heard loud and clear is: “We don’t want to become another Friday Harbor!” Especially not along the waterfront that we all share to varying degrees. Thus a limited number of mooring buoys makes good sense, especially if they keep ships from dropping anchor and affecting benthic organisms. But 20 sounds like a crowd, at least to me. And thank you, Paul, for stimulating this online discussion.
Kim Rose, I’m sure few people even know where Diamond Point is. Suzanne Myers, it’s by the east end of White Beach Road. You go east from the ferry dock on Killebrew Lake Road to get there. It’s nowhere near Eastsound!