Editor,

This letter is in response to an error in Ben Watanabe’s report on the Island County planners Freeland meeting regarding establishing urban growth area (UGA) boundaries (Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015). While reporting on what appeared to be a consensus among many of those present to support the smallest possible urban growth area boundary, the article erroneously stated that the proposed Option B “differed only slightly from Option A in that it took out a few parcels between Scott and Newman roads.” In fact, Option B also, most significantly, removes three residential neighborhoods that lie south of Highway 525 from the proposed area, including the homes in Vesel Court, those on Roxlin Drive and Chris Mar Lane, the homes along Woodard Avenue, and the homes in the Morningside Lane area.

This is a most important distinction and an omission I urge The Record to correct. Many of the homes in these neighborhoods are 20-plus years old and rest on some of the best perking land in the county. These properties have no need for the “urban services” they would eventually be required to subsidize, such as unnecessary sewers and sidewalks. County Planner Brad Johnson admitted these neighborhoods were included in the Option A boundary because their smaller lot sizes allowed them to be included. But as we all know, simply because we can do something does not mean that we should. Being included in the Freeland UGA could result in considerable unnecessary costs for those property owners at some future date, and the potential for assessment may well impact property values in the near future.

At this crucial decision-making time I urge all Freeland property owners to support the very smallest possible urban growth area boundary, Option B, which will help provide important and necessary development for the downtown core while protecting the residential area south of the highway from potential negative financial impact.

BARBARA JOY LAFFEY

Freeland