To: Helen Price Johnson, Island County Commissioner, District 1, Jill Johnson, Island County Commissioner, District 2, and Richard Hannold, Island County Commissioner, District 3
Thanks for giving us back half of our shore access, but we want all of it.
This Wonn Road settlement proposal creates an unfortunate precedent of giving away our island's public lands and public access. While this settlement improves upon the terms from January 2016 to allow immediate access to the water, it still allows half the wall to remain and splits the access between the County and the Montogomerys, and leaves our county vulnerable to future encroachment of public lands. These negotiations have been conducted without a spirit of transparency in regards to the press and general public. We reject the unacceptable limitations on the public use of Wonn Road (no parking, no picnics, no music, no use after dark, no barbecues, no ADA access, etc.), the reduction of public access by half, leaving half the wall, and the ban on any road improvements by the county. REMOVE THE WALL and TAKE BACK ALL 40 FEET TO EXTREME LOW TIDE. We are asking you to proceed to trial. Let the law decide.
Why is this important?
Residents of Island County have enjoyed this Greenbank shoreline at the end of Wonn Road for many years. Hundreds of individuals have petitioned the commissioners starting 8 years ago, including 1,240 signatures in Jan 2016. Public response at the hearing a year ago made clear the express will of the general citizenry. Beginning with the building of this wall, residents have watched one property owner block access to the beach for thousands of people who have walked out Wonn Road to the low tidelines for years, based on a vague and bogus deed. Public safety neccessitates access to the water between Freeland and Coupeville. Settling in a compromise with this owner sends a signal to other owners that public lands and interests are up for grabs. Last chance to make your comments known this Tuesday January 17, 10:00 A.M., in the Courthouse Annex Building, Room #B102, at 1 NE 6th Street in Coupeville, Washington. Email your commissioners; they need to hear from you!