Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent out this newsletter on Fri., Mar. 18, 2022.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 11th week of 2022.
- Guardrail at Cultus Bay Road. Beginning Monday, March 21, 2022, the County will be replacing the guardrail on Cultus Bay Road near the intersection of State Route 525. This will involve closing one lane of Cultus Bay Road to northbound traffic from March 21-25, 2022. Campbell Road will be utilized to detour northbound traffic around the construction zone. The southbound lane will remain open to traffic. For more info see: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WACOISLAND/bulletins/30f2e62
- This week, the Board approved a petition to open a County road right-of-way in order to provide utilities to a plat in Freeland, as a preliminary activity to development. What was particularly interesting to me was: this plat was approved back in 1960, when I was five years old. I’m a senior citizen now, but am still obligated to abide by platting decisions made by government officials long gone, decisions made long before the Growth Management Act was adopted. I have been told there are a lot of these old plats out there. Building construction will still require permits in compliance with current code.
- Transportation Package. Big thanks to Senator Muzzall, Representative Paul, and Representative Gilday for their support of the transportation package that includes $1B in new funding for Washington State Ferries, including funds to construct five new hybrid electric ferries, convert two existing ferries to hybrid electric, and electrify and retrofit ferry terminals to serve the modernized fleet. It also includes funds for vessel and terminal maintenance and preservation and other operating costs.
- COVID Update. Our COVID numbers are way down, but we still had 83 cases including, unfortunately, another death this week. Please remain vigilant. Our Health Officer, Dr. Howard Liebrand, said it best this week at our Board of Health meeting: “We’re off the freeway but not home yet, so let’s not take off our seatbelt yet.” This week’s COVID report is available here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Health/COVID%20Manager%20Report%20Library/BOCC%20Brief%203-18-2022.pdf.
- Upcoming Public Hearings. All of these meetings will be open to the public at our regular 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Board meeting. The meeting is open to both in person and remote attendance at https://meet.starleaf.com/4919878603/app. You may also call in at 1-669-800-5335 Meeting ID 491 987 8603.
- March 22: continuation of the Public Hearing on HB 1590, the resolution to adopt a 1/10th of 1% sales tax for Affordable Housing. The Board has already completed its public comments portion of this hearing; we continued the public hearing in order to allow Human Services an opportunity to draft a framework for the use of these funds prior to the Board voting on the issue. There is opportunity to provide general public comment prior to the hearing at 10:00 a.m.
- April 5: Petition to vacate and dedicate a portion of county road right-of-way known as Miller Road.
- April 12: Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) application from Whidbey Golf Club to classify 140 of 147.41 acres into the PBRS system.
- April 19: Public Hearing on a revision of the Planning Code, regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Thanks,
Melanie
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
— William Butler Yeats
