Jessie Stensland reports from the Island County Superior Court:
A judge denied a motion related to a Freeland motel that is being transitioned into low-income housing, but the litigation is not over.
At a hearing Tuesday, Island County Superior Court Judge Carolyn Cliff declined to impose Freeland Concerned Citizens LLC’s request for a preliminary injunction, saying that preliminary injunctions an extraordinary and rare relief and that the LLC hasn’t shown a clear legal or equitable argument that it would likely prevail on the underlying lawsuit.
They Said It
“Conspicuous by its absence, either in its material before the court or in oral argument, was a straightforward basis or explanation for the court of its legal basis to take the action sought,” [Island County Superior Court Judge Carolyn] Cliff said.
“In candor, it is not clear to this court, and it wasn’t for lack of trying, to determine whether FCC was still asking the court to cancel or nullify the sale of Harbor Inn until the case was fully adjudicated,” Cliff said.
Coupeville resident Gary Wray, one of the three “governors” of Freeland Concerned Citizens LLC, said after the hearing that he actually supports the Harbor Inn housing project and that he’s a long-time proponent of affordable housing projects; he’s a member of county’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. He said he and the other members of the LLC were concerned about the process.
“I want the contract to succeed,” he said. “I just want it to be done right from the beginning.”
