The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently sent a letter to the Port of Orcas requesting the termination of the land lease for the off-leash dog area, located on “the Larsen Property,” just east of the airport entrance on Mt. Baker Road.
According to Port Commissioner Ulanah McCoy, “the issue is to settle between the Port and the FAA. The [off-leash area] people don’t need to convince the Port to keep the park open – we’re already in their corner.”
The Port plans to write a letter “with all the reasons we plan to keep the dog area open,” McCoy said. “We like it here – it’s been popular beyond anyone’s imagination.”
Radar and Logan play well together at the Eastsound Off Leash Dog Area
McCoy recalled a previous disagreement between the Port and the FAA, which was resolved to the Port’s satisfaction when Commissioner Jack Becker wrote a “well-composed letter” to the FAA.
McCoy said, “The FAA tends to take a cookie-cutter approach, that doesn’t work for us.”
Eastsound Off Leash Dog Area Director Jeff Hanson said, “The FAA is concerned that this off-leash area may become established and when it is time for airport expansion, would be become a conflict.
“They use the point that the Larsen Property facing Mt. Baker Road just east of the airport itself, was purchased with an FAA Airport Improvement Program grant and that the grant assurances include a prohibition on leasing the land for other uses and therefore having it “encumbered.”
“The lease we have with the Port specifies that either party can end it with 60 days notice, and we’re fully aware that when the land is needed for airport use, then we’ll remove the improvements.”
Hanson spoke to the Port Commissioners at their Feb. 12 meeting, saying, “The Dog Park Board and a great many in the community truly appreciate your willingness to provide the use of this land for the off-leash area until it’s needed for airport use…
“[We} and the Port have worked in good faith with each other to provide this temporary space for the off-leash area. We have taken steps to both enhance the area for the off-leash area users and to protect the Port’s property from damage…
“We respectfully request that the Port continue to permit the use of this land until it is truly needed for airport purposes, at which time the off-leash area improvements will be removed.
“For [our] part, [we] will continue to work toward finding a permanent home for the off-leash area.”
Photo by Jeff Hanson.
