Keep Freeland’s Main Street on Main Street | LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Published 11:26 am Wednesday, September 29, 2010
To the editor:
The new plan for Freeland is ill-considered.
First, the soil; you hit the water table at about 20 inches, then clay. All of Freeland’s stormwater runs through here. Many on Myrtle Avenue have issues with standing water. Added population around the harbor will add more impervious surfaces, with oil-tainted runoff, along with fertilizers, etc. contributing to the already polluted harbor.
They plan for a “center” for Freeland, and then propose an elongated “L” shape, pulling people and businesses away from the center.
Build up the existing Main Street which will have more buildable space once sewers are available. Keep businesses concentrated in one place to promote walking, but cars are inevitable — Freeland is the shopping hub for South Whidbey — most people use their car to get there. People shopping for groceries or hardware usually are buying more then they can carry.
If you want cute shops with residential spaces above them, then build them on Main Street. Develop the existing commercial zone. don’t expand it. This plan proposes sprawl, just disguised as something “cute” — it’s still sprawl spreading toward the harbor.
Who will pay for this? For sewers I’m told I’ll be assessed $28,000 per dwelling unit I’m allowed in the “best use” of my property. Owning 1.25 acres on Myrtle Avenue, I’ll be assessed $84,000, even if I do nothing.
In the past nine years, I’ve installed two alternate septic systems valued at $30,000-plus, remodeled a guesthouse, built a new house and garage — but these will no longer “fit” the new scheme. So what is my future? Tear down, have more expensive sewer obligations, be forced to sell to developers? I’ll have to move, I’ll be priced out.
If you want to continue to live here, you can’t be happy with this; only those planning to cash out are smiling.
What happens to all the previous planning done over the past 20 years? We had a plan. Stop wasting tax money and implement what has already been agreed upon. Keep Main Street on Main Street.
Kim Kelzer
Freeland
