— from Chris Bean-Hearne —
The EPRC voted unanimously at their zoom meeting on Thursday to forge ahead with their original plans for the development of Prune Alley despite the numerous complaints and with total disregard of the opinions of so many Orcas Islanders to those plans.
One minor sop – they are suggesting slightly lower heights for the street lamp posts.
One redeeming consideration!
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Oh, the unintended consequences of curtailed public dialogue because of a pandemic.
Sad to think about the ramifications as this continues.
I don’t recall seeing an announcement that this EPRC meeting was to discuss approval of the Prune Ally “improvements” or where the link to Zoom the meeting was located. It seems a bit forced. I don’t think this represents citizen input but a way around it.
Gentrification comes in many forms and let’s be simple about this, it adds something to a community in the form of something shiny and new that no one “needs”. This is completely unnecessary and magically Prune Alley has been fine all these years without the lamp posts.
Given that this was unanimously passed, I’m sure that the McDonalds and Target are not far behind.
EPRC Chair Templin:
I’lll be brief. As a twenty-three year resident of Eastsound, I consider it to be the soil which nourishes my soul. The proposals contained in the Prune Alley Plan poses a first step in the death of the village which I have come to love. It is a transformative event turning a village into just another “planned” town. It serves no interest except those in the business and the bureaucratic planning industry. It is a multi-million dollar poison which current taxpayers will be forced to swallow. It is not about public safety as the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office accident statistics amply demonstrate. The tranquility of the night sky will be shattered and become just a memory of a former lost age.
Please politely say thank you to the plan’s creators and place it in the inactive file and forgotten.
Larry Weingarth
Thank you commenters! All, well said. Bet someone will also soon be salivating about the thematic flags that can be designed, created, paid for by US, and erected every season and every festival on little outriggers on said lampposts!
I don’t believe a quiet island village that people love should be developed into something else.
Absolutely ridiculous..this will change the character of Eastsound, and not in a good way. EPRC is not working in our interests…may be time to change some things.
The EPRC is an advisory group which gives their advice and input to the Council. This is not the last word as the Council makes the final vote. I have noted that the Council person from the Island involved usually has the final say in how the vote goes. In these times of uncertainty I would hope the Council is thinking of the budget and long term costs of any project. But back to the main point – how do the majority of residents want Eastsound to look. Personally I do not agree with street lights or banners flying from them. There is still time to notify all your Council members to express your approval or disapproval and the reasons why. I for one do not think we should jump into huge construction projects just because there is Grant money available to pay for some of it. The bridge in Deer Harbor is a prime example. Not a bad looking bridge as bridges go but totally out of place with the rural character of Deer Harbor. I fear the same for Eastsound if this project goes forward.
No, thank you.
Thank you to EPRC!
This is the right decision, as evidenced by the unanimous vote. As owner of a property that has frontage on both North Beach Road and Prune Alley, I see the disparity between the two streets every day. Prune Alley is a wreck; an embarrassing stretch of an ugly potholed street that is literally falling apart.
Would all the opponents of this project rather turn around the clock and have North beach Road and Main Street looking like they did 25 years ago before the Eastsound Streetscape plan was implemented there?
Like it or not, Orcas and Eastsound are growing. The aging baby boomer population will need the safe sidewalks. And cars and cyclists will no longer have to dodge potholes.
Michael–I agree with your comments about the slow destruction of rural character–the DeerHarbor bridge being a fine example.
I certainly think that the street lightpoles and street “decoration” can wait.
What we will no doubt hear is that “we have a grant” so we have to spend the money. That is why it’s so important that Council review all grant applications very carefully, because they lock the County into years of actions we might not support.
That said, it is unlikely that any of the money in question can go to sorely needed services. It comes in individual silos.