Illahee Issues Meeting with DCD Director Larry Keeton

 5/14/07

 

A Concerned Illahee Citizens Group Asks These Questions:

 

 

L to R; Judith Krigsman, Joyce Hansen, Jim Aho,

Don Jahaske.                               (John Lind photo)

 

Community Concern:

1.  Clear cutting and lack of enforcement in North Illahee (on the curve).

Question. How does an old growth forest disappear overnight? Action: The jury is still out! Director Keeton says that the permit was followed by the Developer.

 

From Illahee Forest Preserve Group:

2.  What do we need to do to expedite the approval of permits for the Almira-Fuson parking lot so the parking lot can be completed this year? We have put the Rotary Club off for two years, first while we decided on the design, and later while the ParkÕs department resolved budget issues.  The budget for the parking lot has now been established and the lot is being designed, though we are concerned that with the backlog of projects in DCD that approval process could jeopardize it being completed this year. Whom do we need to contact and what should we do, to get the approvals so work can be completed in 2007?

                  Action:  A public benefit process can be used, but must be initiated by the ParkÕs Department.

 

3.  We donÕt feel there is enough time allocated for local citizens to respond to developments in our area, and in the county in general. Fourteen days notice for the community to be ready to respond to a development that has likely been being planned for years, is not enough time. Also, the seven or fourteen dayÕs notice for a SEPA appeal is not enough time. What can we do to afford the community more time to review projects? Action:  Extensions can be requested through DCD which we would prefer over a motion for continuance.  We need more information on the extension request process.

 

4.  Just in our small portion of the county we have found one engineering group to be less than ethical with the Environmental Checklist on two separate occasions. IÕm sure your office knows who the repeat offenders are.  Is there anything we can do to help put these groups on report, so they donÕt keep causing the same problems over and over? Action:  They will investigate.

 

L. to R: Judith Krigsman, Joyce Hansen, Jim Aho, Don Jahaske,

 Director Larry Keeton.  (John Lind Photo)

 

From Illahee Community Citizens Advisory Group:

5.  We hear from developers that the county is telling them that ÒAny development being contemplated in Illahee requires the installation of sewers in the area,Ó in spite of the fact that we are zoned 1-5 dwelling units per acre. We are finishing our community plan and because we are at near build-out conditions we are wondering why sewers are being pushed.  We have some areas along Illahee Creek where we need all the groundwater flow, even from septic systems, to maintain the summer flow in the creek in order to support the anadromous fish in the stream. When we were zoned 5-9 DUA we understand why sewers were needed, but we donÕt understand why they are being pushed for the lower zoning density. Action:  The BOCC decided sewers were required for all developments in the uniform growth areas, no exceptions. Use the community plan process to define what you want and then get your plan approved by the BOCC.