I write in support of Steve Pearson and his current development of Orcas Rental and Saw at the northeast corner of Enchanted Forest Rd and Lovers Lane. I have known Steve for over three years; in that time he has proved to be an unfailingly good neighbor and friend.
I live on Lovers Lane, immediately south of Clyde and April Duke’s property on the southeast corner of that same junction. From the front porch of my house, I look directly across the eastern portion of the Duke’s property to Orcas Rental and Saw. As I stand on my porch, I am pleased to contemplate a structure that, with its varied and historically referenced architecture and local and recycled materials, honors the character and flavor of Eastsound Village.
From the beginning of his current project, Steve has been open and honest with me about his vision for the corner. As well, he has included me in that vision. Knowing that I am an avid organic gardener, he asked me to design and build a garden for the corner. I envisioned a biologically diverse garden that would demonstrate how ordinary individuals and families, with limited resources of time, money, land, and experience, could use organic practices to grow flowers, fruit, vegetables, and herbs to feed both their bodies and souls. The garden that I created this past summer did just that.
As I worked away at the corner, tilling, planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting, passers-by, many of them residents of nearby Bonnie Brae, stopped to visit, ask questions, and comment on the progress of the garden. As seeds became plants, and plants became vegetables and flowers, these neighbors would share their pleasure in watching the garden grow and note how healthy and beautiful everything looked. Many would ask how they could create similar gardens. Some asked if I would help them develop such a garden, such as Lisa Byers, OPAL Director, who envisioned a similar garden on the OPAL property just across the street. Especially as the cosmos and sunflowers began to bloom, and the lettuces and beans and squash grew to harvest stage, people would stop again and again and simply say, “I love this garden. Thank you for making this garden.”
Each Tuesday during harvest time I took a laundry basket of herbs and vegetables to share with islanders at the Food Bank. Employees of Orcas Rental and Saw took home fresh vegetables. April Duke wandered into the garden to harvest lettuces and herbs. I took home my share too. Our little corner garden delighted, inspired, and fed quite a few people, just as I envisioned it would.
I was sad to read in the record of the recent EPRC meeting that some islanders think Steve’s project is a “blight” on the neighborhood. Conversely, I can’t think of a more neighborly development than buildings and landscaping that reflect the historical aesthetic and purposes of the village, as well as values of community and sustainability. With each year, and additional time and funds, my goal is to develop the corner garden into an increasingly mature and diverse planting that will continue to delight, inspire, and feed islanders. I can’t think of a more appropriate “screen” than that.
Margaret Payne
Why are we stopping companies from growing and stopping revenue from going to the county.
We need business here on the island not they should be able to grow and add a little beauty.
Response to Bill;
We are stopping companies from building illegally and violating code, for not stating land use intentions honestly. That’s only fair to others who did things legally and by the book.
Response to Margaret; What you planted was a summer annual garden with some perennials. I’m glad it got you work in this difficult economic climate, but it’s a display garden. Since the project is not permitted for year-round retail because of zoning code laws, a display garden such as yours is prohibited. Only year-round evergreen screening is permitted, and year-round full-time retail is NOT permitted; so much of development, if not all, this never should have been built and didn’t have the proper permits, or applications for permits for subsequent development.
Some of us nearby residents (and the abutting wetlands) are negatively impacted by this project, not only aesthetically. Although some of us knew of violations, we didn’t know the extent of them. I cited my concerns and places where I saw Mr. Pearson in violation of codes before you put in your summer garden.
If Craftsman Corner goes through, even after its myriad code violations, it sets precedent for other landowners and developers to follow suit – be dishonest about land use intentions, build first, and hope they get permits later. That’s unacceptable.
Some of us “long timers” don’t want to see land in our UGA home be developed to the maximum, illegally, with no forethought or protection for existing wetlands and sensitive ecosystems.
Though Steve Pearson may have let you in on his land use intentions, he hasn’t yet let the county in on it. I hope that after this fiasco, the county will pay closer attention to permitting concerns and that this never happens again.
Sadie Bailey, nearby resident