Thanks, EPRC | Letter

Published 1:29 pm Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Congratulations Eastsound Planning Review Committee for the first major review of our Eastsound Plan in 20 years.

Most interesting was the plan to provide “streetscape” improvements (similar to North Beach Road) to Prune Alley and “A” Street.

Fred Klein and Bill Trogdon, meeting with all affected property owners, have produced endless drafts (20’ drawings that would be a credit to L’Enfant), explanations, redrafts and negotiations. Public service and grassroots community planning at its best. It is a work in progress that needs a push from the county to happen.

What is new? Format, the old plan, combining both vision and regulation in one document is now split into a plan, i.e. goals and policy to be located in the County Comp. Plan and Regulations to be located in the County Uniform Development Code. It is a reweaving process not a new vision or rule.

What is deleted? First, the old history section. Bureaucracy at the margins. This must be reinstated and the plan authors credited. The EPRC origin and participants, Dale Pederson, Bruce Orchid and Laura Arnold through EPRC chairman Gulliver Rankin today, deserve a footnote for their efforts. The plan did not just happen, it was forged here and over the virulent objections of a past county planning director. The plan is not perfect, but it is what we could agree to and credit is due.

What is missing? The needs and opportunities unperceived are harder to perceive. 16.55.120 Open Space, Historic and Natural Features is the place, not simply to note that Madrona Point exists, but to have a policy to cooperate with the Lummi Owners to provide and maintain  public access in conformity with the enabling covenants. (Vol. 276, pg.387-9) The present effective policy is to abrogate all responsibility.

John Campbell

Orcas