09/08/2007: "Guest Editorial"

Urban Growth with Respect for All By Sharon Peaslee

On August 24 I addressed the San Juan County Planning Commission imploring them to ensure the protection of properties directly impacted by the expansion of Friday Harbor. I am thoroughly convinced that the needs of the town and all its citizens can be met without degrading homes and properties along the boundary lines. But this will take a very strong commitment to careful and respectful planning, from all parties involved in this process.

Home Trust has already reached an agreement with the Buck family to build a high-density affordable housing complex on land that borders five properties on Sunday Drive. One of them is a lot that I am about to build my home on. I was stunned to discover just a few weeks ago, that the Home Trust plan involves building three 3-unit dwellings right along our property lines. We will lose our views and our privacy. Somehow they overlooked this in their planning. This land is currently zoned R-5, but if annexed by the town will be rezoned for multi-family housing.

At this point, the Home Trust plans are merely drawings on paper that can be changed in any way imaginable. They could easily be redrawn with a generous green buffer zone between our properties and their buildings. The taller 3-unit buildings could easily be placed farther down the slope so that our views are not lost. By making a few changes to the plans Home Trust will be able to meet all their objectives without negatively impacting homes that already exist. And it will cost them nothing.

But it will preserve community values of respect and cooperation, and allow us to continue to enjoy the natural beauty around our homes while making it more affordable for others to do the same. It is simply not necessary to diminish the appeal of one neighborhood in order to build another. If we look for ways to grow that won’t degrade what we already have, we will find them. Now is the time for the Planning Commission and Town Council to make the strongest possible commitment to protect existing properties, their views and privacy, as we expand the boundaries of Friday Harbor.

(Sharon Peaslee owns home on Sunday Drive in Friday Harbor that is near the proposed Urban Growth Area.)