by Jim Ekberg, Olga
The Port Authority is seeking new funding to replace the dwindling income from previous FAA subsidies. They are considering acquiring the county dock at the foot of Madrona point for the establishment of a marina to directly serve Eastsound with marine services. They would thus generate a cash flow, much like the joint operation of the marina and airport in Friday Harbor.
Aside from all the probable legal dilemmas that this plan would certainly generate, both for the County government itself and the Port of Orcas, this proposed plan would most likely be a hard sell to the residents of Orcas, other than the business interests.
There are several historical examples of community resistance to such plans for significant commercial infrastructure enhancements in the last 15 years; the expansion and the grocery store proposed for Orcas Landing, and the proposed Madrona Point conversion to condominiums. These proposals have been resoundingly defeated by strident community members. Without community consent, representatives who act unilaterally in their own limited interest always meet with harsh opposition.
There seems to be a persistent collective commitment to restraining zealous commercialization of the available terrestrial or aquatic resources on Orcas. We somehow feel we cannot sacrifice these resources to commercialization at the expense of a quality of life which is experienced by the many people who have been drawn to live here. As nebulous as that quality of life may be, it is of inestimable value to those who reside here. We are not afraid to fight to maintain a respect for values beyond profit that reach for a greater symbiotic balance between commerce and stewardship.
Add to this the recent realization of the tenuousness of our environmental situation. This would lead me to believe the ferocity of conviction might be even more strident now. Anyone who would have the audacity to consider such options perhaps should take pause. Take heed of the reactions of historical precedence to such proposals. Couple this with the common knowledge that our environmental situation is dire. Any ‘big’ commercial endeavors, which would sacrifice our natural heritage to ‘commercial value,’ seems doomed to concerted conflict and ultimate failure.
Some of the substance of our perceived ‘quality of life’ is a common recognition there is a grandeur to this island that does not ‘belong’ to us. It will always demand our respect and reverence. It commands values beyond profit, to which many, rich or poor, old or young, are whole-heartedly committed. This is a common ground.
Please, Port of Orcas, seek other funding options for your foreseen financial shortfall.
After reading this Guest Opinion I came across this interesting Bloomberg article titled “Too Many Public Works Built On Rosy Scenarios” (which goes on to point out that such projects later suffer substantial cost overruns). See the article on this topic at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-08/too-many-public-works-built-on-rosy-scenarios-virginia-postrel.html
Typical of debates on issues such as these, the scenarios are drawn in black and white, when, in reality, the solutions are usually in shades of gray. There is tremendous room for compromise between a seldom used three vessel county facility with virtually no economic benefit, and a two hundred slip commercial marina with significant environmental impact.
Lets not automatically go to either extreme before we explore what is possible if the concerns of each position are considered and addressed.
In human terms, the lack of change and growth is death. Lets see if we can find common ground on fully vetted, controlled growth.
I agree with Jim Ekberg’s letter and as a long-term Eastsound resident, would oppose a marina in Fishing Bay. Why? Fishing Bay is non-flushing; in other words, it does not self-clean. Any pollutants that make their way into the Bay by air, land or sea, stay in the Bay. For that reason alone, the public dock near Madrona Point is an unsuitable location for a marina.
In 30 years of observation, I have seen the critical habitats in and around Eastsound seriously and cumulatively degraded, and now, it’s our “Urban Growth Area.” 50% of all projected growth must live within the UGA. There’s one glaring problem with this: The idea of “growth economy” is a dying paradigm that’s no longer sustainable. We simply haven’t the resources to sustain unremitting growth and consumption, and still save our struggling planet.
Thank you, Henry, for the link to the Bloomberg article. Have you sent it yet to the County Council, the Planning Commission, CD&P, and all the planners and engineers in Public Works? If not, may I? Great find.