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Residents vow to stop public works yard
By Sharon Kivisto
posted 11/20/01
Seventy-five Hillview Terrace residents signed a petition vowing to use every legal means possible to stop the town from placing a public works site on Sutton Road. The 26-acre property belongs to the town. The county leases part of the property for use as the solid waste transfer site.
At the Nov. 15 town council meeting Mayor Gary Boothman said, "I told Jeff Webster we would do everything to be good neighbors. The property belongs to the town and is zoned correctly...The threat of a lawsuit is not the worse situation the town could face." He noted the high cost of finding another site for a public works yard. The property has a Utility land classification.
Town Attorney Don Eaton said, "You can't run government by reacting to threats. No one wants it next to them. You can't make decisions on that basis."
The county needs more space at the site for transfer station operations. Both the county and the town need more room for public works yards. Last year, talks were underway about a possible trade between the county and the town. The county would have swapped its Guard Street property for the town's Sutton Road property. The talks stopped after 50 Hillcrest residents told the county commissioners they did not want a public works yard at the site.
The county and town discussed an outright sale of the Sutton Road property. A price could not be agreed upon. The town council wanted the cost of finding a replacement site factored into the price. The county would not pay anything above the appraised value.
In October 2001, the county and town agreed to consider splitting the Sutton Road site. The county would decide how much space it needed and the town would then see if the remaining acreage would meet its needs. In the meanwhile an interim lease has been signed allowing the county to expand its use of the property. The recycling bins will be moved to the upper area of the site.
Petition to: The Mayor and Town Council of Friday Harbor
From: The Hillview Terrace II and III Homeowners Associations
In light of the recent joint meeting of the Board of County Commissioners and the Friday Harbor Town Council on Wednesday, Sept. 12, it has become clear to us that the position of the Hillview Terrace Homeowners should be conveyed to the Friday Harbor Town Council.
WIthout reiterating the details covered in the meeting, it needs to be made clear to the Mayor and Town Council that the HIllview Terrace Homeowners find the prospect of a maintenance and/or vehicle, equipment and gravel storage yard on the 26 acres adjacent to Hillview Terrace totally unacceptable. We feel so strongly about this that we will use every legal means at our disposal to stop such usage from taking place.
We accept the transfer station as a grandfathered use in the area. Further, we have an understanding with the County that the transfer station will not be expanded beyond its current site. Any additional expansion beyond the transfer station would be a violation of the intent of the County's Land Use Plan for the area. The land use designation for this area is Rural Residential and Agricultural. Further, the San Juan County Land Bank has purchased 130 acres on the west side of Roche Harbor Road with tremendous support by island residents. The establishment of a maintenance/storage yard would meet with strong opposition from far more than the immediate neighborhood. It also represents an environmental hazard to the large wetlands there.
May we suggest to the Mayor and Town Council that:
- It is not feasible for the Town to consider construction of a storage or maintenance facility on the Town's 26-acre adjacent parcel and remain in compliance with the County's Comprehensive Plan.
- On an island of approximately 6,500 people we have two road maintenance departments. It would be a better use of taxpayer's money to combine the two into one operation, located on an appropriate industrial-zoned parcel with room for expansion to serve future needs of both the Town and County.
San Juan transfer site may be split in two
posted 10/05/01
Unable to work out a sale of the entire Sutton Road solid waste transfer site, the county and town are now working on a deal to split it. The county commissioners will determine how much of the site they need for their operations and will draw a line on the map. Town councilmembers will then decide if the remaining parcel fits their public works needs.
"The sale will only take place if the area left over is suitable for us," said Town Councilmember Bill LaPorte. The town needs an area to store gravel and equipment and for other public works needs.
The county needs more room for its solid waste transfer station at the Sutton Road site. Last year a land swap was proposed. The county would trade its Guard Street Public Works site (next to the library) for the town-owned Sutton Road site. That plan was dropped after a group of neighbors opposed the trade during a May, 2000 meeting.
Councilmembers Vonda Sheiman and LaPorte met with County Commissioner John Evans last week to discuss the options. "The trade was brought up and immediately shot down," said Sheiman.
While the negotiations continue over the possible sale, an interim expanded lease is being worked out. Because of safety concerns relating to the crowded conditions at the transfer site, Town Administrator King Fitch is drafting a lease which will allow the county to use the shelf (upper) area for its recycling operations.
Land swap put on hold
County commissioners yesterday, May 2, put on hold a proposed land swap between the Town of Friday Harbor and San Juan County after about 50 residents of San Juan Island's Hillview Terrace neighborhood packed the Courthouse Hearing Room.
Commissioners John Evans and Darcie Nielsen voted against pursuing the exchange of the town land at the solid waste transfer site for the county's Public Works yard.
"If this was my neighborhood, I wouldn't want it there," Evans said. "I'm not in support."
"I don’t think we’re anywhere near a land swap," Nielsen said.
Board Chair Rhea Miller voted for it. "This is a very live possibility for me," Miller said.
The county has been trying to find a way to expand its footprint at the Solid Waste Transfer Station on San Juan Island. More room is needed to solve problems caused by the inadequate layout of the facility. Commissioners have expressed concerns about safety issues at the site. The county was considering expanding its trash transfer station at the site and possibly basing its public works yard there.
The Town of Friday Harbor needs more space for its Public Works Department. Currently most of the department's equipment is stored at its facility at the corner of Spring and Marguerite streets.
The town owns the land the transfer station is on. The county-owned property on Guard Street next to the library was used as a public works yard by the county.
Thomas Huse, county Public Works Director/Engineer presented a capital facilities plan which included a land swap of the two properties at a public hearing in April.
"The town is clear: the only way they’ll let us expand at that site is if we acquire or swap," Huse said.
Neighbors of the transfer site, tired of noise pollution and litter along roads, testified at the May 2 public hearing, they would rather see any future expansion at the site permanently buried.
"We are prepared to do whatever it takes to stop this proposed project," said Susan Campbell-Webster.
"It’s a really crummy facility and you’re really bad neighbors," said Claudia Mills.
County staff had considered several other sites, before focusing on the potential land swap. Nielsen suggested re-exploring one of the them--the Liebman property off of Beaverton Valley Road.
"It may be overpriced but the cost may be considerably less if you take the wider economic view," Tom Schroeder said.
Evans suggested the public works’ needs – a maintenance yard, sand and gravel storage -- could be located at different sites. It would be nice if it’s all in one spot, but it doesn’t have to be, he said.
He suggested both the Liebman property and a potential site on Port of Friday Harbor airport land should be reconsidered.
Miller noted she has a "mandate" to provide facilities for all islanders. She said she is committed to mitigating impacts, including light pollution and rainwater runoff, at the Sutton Road site. She opposes purchasing the Liebman property because locating the public works facility there would lead to environmental impacts equal to those at the Sutton Road facility and "sprawl."
Land swap discussed
Friday Harbor Town Council and San Juan County Commissioners may trade two hard-to-site public facilities.
The BOCC has been trying to find a way to expand its footprint at the Solid Waste Transfer Station on San Juan Island. More room is needed to solve problems caused by the inadequate layout of the facility. Commissioners have termed the site dangerous.
The Town of Friday Harbor needs more space for its Public Works Department. Currently most of the department's equipment is stored at its facility at the corner of Spring and Marguerite streets.
The town owns the land the transfer station is on. The county-owned property on Guard Street next to the library was used as a public works yard.
Preliminary discussions have taken place about a possible land swap of the two properties. Besides solving the county's need for more room and the town's need for a public works building, the plan has other benefits according to Friday Harbor Mayor Gary Boothman. "Neither one has money saved up," he said. "No additional property would be taken off tax rolls."
The town would have to disincorporate the land. Currently it is part of the incorporated Town of Friday Harbor. Land used for municipal purposes can be incorporated into the town's limits even though it is not contiguous.
The county Public Works Department will hold a public meeting on the possible swap from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 13 in the Friday Harbor Middle School Commons.
The town council will discuss the possible trade at a future meeting.
