Letter to Council and local citizens,
Councilman Walters dislike of public comment and due process is apparent in his aversion to a conditional use permit process for impactful projects marks a major departure from previous City Council members recognition that:
- ‘neighbors have property rights too’
- design standards need to take into account existing neighborhood character
- staff often have to deal with inaccurate applications and incomplete information, and
- neighbors have at a minimum a right to notice and comment
I have direct experience of this as a long time home builder and sometime developer. Public review and comment only improved my projects and their marketability.
As a past council person in Anacortes the use of conditional uses was the best way to create public participation, and get citizens opinion. Conditional uses also helped council convince neighborhoods we cared about their opinion and to help maintain neighborhood character. This takes time and effort from council and staff, and I never felt it was a waste of my time.
Ignoring the complexity of easements and covenants in permit approvals just forces neighbors to either ‘suck it up’ or spend tens of thousands of dollars in court proceedings. Accommodating developers by ignoring agreed upon environmental standards just externalizes these costs onto neighbors and utility ratepayers. This also reflects the lack of use of the Planning Commission, where citizens can give evidence.
The idea that our rules for development cover all conditions is absurd. Our island is a complex community and ecosystem (worthy of our care and time), and the past administrations that used conditions have created a beautiful city and natural surroundings. Growth will come to our town as it always has been, but at what expense? Conditional uses are a valuable tool in our tool box. It has worked for a long while, and our island beauty reflects it. Democracy takes time and is worth it. We don’t want autocracy!
Bill Turner
