||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER |||
The north entrance of Eastsound is facing yet another alteration as trees both diseased and healthy along the west side of North Beach Rd. in front of Children’s House and Salmonberry may soon come down. The Broad Leaf Maples reside along the county right-of-way but on properties that belong to the schools. At the January meeting of the Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC), Cory Harrington, representing the boards of both schools, asked that all the trees be removed for safety reasons.
According to County Council member Cindy Wolf, both the EPRC and Children’s House have brought arborists out to inspect the trees, and while there has been no formal report, “they had differing opinions.” Still, she added, “Our first concern is for community safety. Trees do have a lifecycle. If those trees are deemed dangerous, we have to take them down. It’s a liability and safety issue.”
After the meeting, it was agreed that both the EPRC and Children’s House send their reports to Wolf and Colin Huntemer of Public Works. If there is still a question on whether all or just some of the maples should be cut, the county will send a crew to re-evaluate. Otherwise, all of the trees will come down immediately. According to the EPRC’s suggested plan, only half the trees merit immediate removal. A few more could be taken over time, but the rest are fine and provide other benefits such as shade, protection from wind shear, and aesthetic value – all of which were already diminished when the canopy was thinned for the April’s Grove development.
Children’s House could remove the trees without consultation, but because they are in the right of way, it becomes a county expense. In their place, Wolf states that a landscape architect from the county will draw up a plan and work with property owners and the EPRC on choosing replacement trees – something that hasn’t yet happened along the Orcas Road straightaway near The Exchange that was clear-cut in 2019. Also worth noting: If all the trees come down, it “paves” the way (at some point in the future) for that stretch of road to be widened by eight feet, which Public Works is wont to do but which many in the community would likely characterize as unnecessary and resulting in a further loss of rural character.
To weigh in, contact the following:
- Don Walters (President of Children’s House board): don@gobit.com
- Ady Walker (Children’s House Director): ady@oich.org
- Paul Freedman (Salmonberry Head of School): head@salmonberryschool.org
- EPRC: eastsoundplanningreview@gmail.com
- Cindy Wolf: cindyw@sanjuanco.com
NOTE: This post has been updated to correct contact information for Children’s House President, Don Walters. A link to the county document re: the widening of North Beach Road: https://www.sanjuanco.com/
Matthew,
Thanks for the coverage, but I do not know where you got the idea there was a plan to widen the road. I just asked the County Engineer and there are currently no plans whatsoever to widen North Beach Rd.
Cindy, there is a rendition of such a widening (without a timeframe) adopted on November 11, 2018. Later today I will attach the PDF of that plan to the original article. above.
Please check with EPRC. I recall some discussion last year about applying the right-of-way but with a different footpath that allowed for keeping the road width the same. Sorry I am fuzzy on the details but Charles may be able to clarify.
The adopted street plans from school road to mount baker road were moaned about in lots of eprc meetings public works wanted wide shoulders for bicycles. The public did not and talked about how to get the 4 feet shoulders removed from the standards. Maybe public works isnt going to do it soon, but it has been the plan for at least 2 or 3 years to widen the road width 4 feet on both sides. Good old Tony Simpson came up with the idea of a wider bicycle and walking path so they would not have to widen the road but the county never went for it. When i heard about the plan to remove all the trees and put new trees close to the walking path instead of where they are now i said it sure looks like they are planning to widen the road!
.
I asked the Engineer again. He tells me that ordinance was adopted to let OPAL go forward with April’s Grove without being forced to disrupt the rural feel of the street with curbs and gutters.. The ordinance was not codified and there is nothing about widening North Beach Rd in the Public Works 6 year or 20 year project plan. This really is about responding to a safety request from two schools concerned for their small children. Together I hope we can find a solution that means the children can be safe today and enjoy a lovely, treed walking path when their children attend those schools.
Cindy, just because an ordinance isnt codified doesnt mean it isnt still an active ordinance. You make it sound like the 4 feet shoulders are not actually on the plan. Ordinances are what a builder has to build to which is why April Grove had to put in a walking path even though the two houses and the Catholic church did not. You have to build so they can put in the 4 feet shoulder as it is now and public works has to plant trees more than 4 feet from the road for the future 4 feet shoulder. If you are so certain that its not the long term plan to widen north beach road with 4 feet shoulders then make sure they plant the new trees in line with the old ones and make it one of your priorities to change the dang ordinance. Then we can all rest easy. I also hope that us and our current children will still get to enjoy the leafy shaded path of today and not just our grandkids.
Cut the dead trees. Keep the good trees! Geez
29 years ago I was the Orcas County Commissioner and Ron Loen was Public Works Director. Ron thought the old big leaf maples in question were too close to the North Beach Road right-of-way. They were scheduled to be cut down. I, and the two other County Commissioners said no! I wanted to protect the character and history of Eastsound.
With agreement of the school’s private landowners, the County planted new, young replacement maples well back from the road. My stipulation was the old maples could be removed by the County, when the new trees reached maturity.
How time flies, as they say. I guess after 30 years the time has arrived. I hope the new trees can remain and serve the beauty and character as intended .
Big Leaf maples (Acer macrophyllum) may not be the arborist first choice, however the replacement trees are about 30 years old from seed. They are replacing historical like-species Eastsound street trees and will provide shade and beauty for another 100 years.
RESPECTFULLY.
John Evans
(past County Commissioner)
Cindy, all three Council Members committed two years ago to the Complete Streets program. Complete streets is a transportation policy and design approach that requires streets to be planned, designed, operated, and maintained to enable safe, convenient and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation.
This section of North Beach Road from School Road to Mount Baker Road is one of the most bicycle unfriendly roads on Orcas because it is so narrow. As one the three main entrances into Eastsound, it needs to accommodate the higher traffic that we are experiencing. The anachronistic rural quaintness of its present state, designed many decades ago for very low traffic, has no place as a semi-urban main arterial.
Colin Huntemer realizes that this important connector ties not only the new April’s Grove to town and schools, but also the populated North Beach community. Both are family neighborhoods with kids who would benefit greatly from being able to ride bikes on safe, 4-foot paved shoulders.
The only meaningful area for growth remaining in the cramped Eastsound area exists north towards North Beach Road. The connector from town to the Mt Baker Rd path improvements is through either this corridor or via a traverse of multiple properties and incongruous paths via Buck Park.
I think we all can appreciate the quaint, tree-lined road that is an iconic drive into town but as Dan has stated, the use and development on the road has seen massive change. If there are trees that are an immediate danger to the kids… get rid of them. But it also seems inevitable that although there may not be an “active codified” ordinance, somebody better be working on a plan to assure that that road remains safe for ALL users. If planting new trees now to accommodate future growth and to maintain the desired future aesthetic is required, it sounds like someone needs to get going on some planning.
I cannot tell you how much I will miss those trees. Is a farewell ceremony planned? Those beautiful trees have been friends to many of us for a very long time.
With sadness,
Kathi Ciskowski
Here’s the link to the “North Beach Road Improvement Plan,” adopted on December 10, 2018:
https://www.sanjuanco.com/DocumentCenter/View/19329/Ordinance-31-2018-Adopting-North-Beach-Road-Street-Improvement-Plan?bidId=
A bit of misinformation here, and incorrect names. Would be best to call the parties you are naming to confirm before printing.
One more thing: “Don Harrington” should be Don Walters: don@gobit.com. Our apologies for the error.
I HATE that all this tree cutting is going on, all over the island. Good God. Trees age and fall down, big deal. Let them continue to provide us with their beauty. Obviously diseased trees might need to come down, but the healthy ones? Just so we can walk by easier or have a wider area for our vehicles. Egads. Will there be nothing left after all of this. I say, if a tree falls on me and kills me, good riddance and a great way to go.
Great discussion, and no tourists to blame, just mother nature doing her thing!
Cindy,
Could you let us know exactly when the trees will be cut? I’d like to be there to say goodbye.
Kathi Ciskowski
I think it might be worthwhile to revisit the Complete Streets notion. Nothing could be further from rural character. Complete Streets was designed for large cities. It has made a nightmare of Seattle.
I’m curious what are the specific safety issues cited that the trees present to the children? What are the Comp Plan Rural Village Character standards? Have they been drawn and adopted by Council for the Plan? The more specific, the better for community relations and ease of these complicated decision’ resolution, from my experience of facilitating Comp Plans in other communities. Tree/heritage features are often included in these standards… like the tree-lined main entrances to Eastsound (our only rural village on Orcas) that was part of a draft a few years ago. This can help in guiding overall decision making where the specified vision usually does support the Comp Plan process and the really hardworking SJC staff in Public Works, Planning, and EPRC. Perhaps if we refer to specific points of safety impacting the children then drastic actions to these iconic tree-scapes of Eastsound that pre-date a lot of us may be mitigated and come to a more comfortable community decision. This could even help get us all on the same page, starting with healthy versus diseased trees. Just wondering and hoping arbitrary decisions (in any direction) are avoided. Is there a verified urgent safety matter that the community doesn’t know about? Is it possible to ask EPRC or SJC to spearhead a conversation/task-force with representation from key stakeholders to examine options after researching thoughtful considerations and then begin to establish more objective Rural Village Character standards to support community decision making going forward? We have such a wonderful community – lots of different ideas!
Some things have “made a night mare of Seattle”, but the Complete Streets Program is NOT one of them. What’s wrong with enabling safe, convenient and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation?
Anyway, Eastsound is not Seattle, but neither is that heavily traveled section of North Beach Road a rural country road!
This is the public square, and I appreciate the forum!
Do people think the “trees” are a “Trojan Horse” for further development? That would be a dishonest popular approach, and unnecessary if plans and intentions are on record. My hope is that the official record about the trees decisions will appear clearly in appropriate, transparent County announcements records, and will continue to be covered by the professionalism of Mr. Gilbert. That is good government, and good press.
Now, the risk of harm from falling trees or tree parts? It’s mixed according to professionals and laypeople, and is mostly a personal assessment, right? (I don’t find any statistics at the CDC, except for Tree Workers!) I have removed and trimmed trees that could fall on the house or block egress. I have not removed trees that could fall on a moving target, but it does happen. You get into hazard assessments of “if one life is saved,” no matter how low the risk, especially for children. A private decision is sovereign as far as it’s legal; a public decision requires honest thought leaders and effective technocrats.
Cindy, the easement will be widened from 50-70 feet and sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and bike lanes will be REQUIRED for all streets in the UGA – which are 25 mph speed zones – 20 mph in some places. It’s not on THIS 6 year road plan but neither was Enchanted Forest Rd but they are cutting and clearing there too. The EPRC to their credit tried to get Public Works to look at individual roads as not a cookie cutter solution. Did you ask when this 6 year plan ended and the next one begins?
Here’s a burning question: who has ever seen these trees being a hazard or their branches sailing through the air or blowing off in windstorms? Because even with all the rampant deforestation and wetland destruction here in our UGA, I haven’t. So what’s the hazard everyone is afraid of? Can we take time to think rationally about the real vs imagined dangers?
Do we need this overkill on every single road? Can we for once view these trees as they are – living beings that give much more than they take? Their roots alone are holding back stormwater pollution from our wetland watershed groundwater (you know’ source of our drinking water?) among the many other things they give – like oxygen, habitat, shade and shelter, beauty… Can we please stop this craziness in the name of unlimited growth on a small finite place?
In 1995, working together with Public Works, I planted six maple trees along North Beach Road as John Evans mentioned in his comments. They are now over 20 feet tall and are thriving. We recognized at the time that the maple trees were declining and wanted to think ahead to the future. Our intention was to have them ready to fill in when the time came to remove the old and diseased maples. As we continue to grow as a community I value the importance of creating together county road plans that incorporate the planting of new trees.
Robin Kucklick