One South Whidbey waterside property will be restored to public beach access.

During an Island County Commissioners work session earlier this month, Assistant Director of Public Works Fred Snoderly presented the results of a September open house regarding a county-owned parcel on Brighton Beach in Clinton.

The property, which measures approximately 170 feet by 20 feet, was originally a beach access point open to the public but in recent years it has not been maintained and has become a place for community members to park and turn their cars around.

Of the 35 open house attendees, 22 wanted the removal of blackberry bushes and a return to beach access at the site. Other ideas included turning the property into a community garden.

Snoderly said he looked into the shoreline management element of the county’s comprehensive plan, and found that it listed as a goal increasing and enhancing access to publicly owned shorelines and tidelands. He recommended returning the parcel to public beach access, which will require some maintenance on the county’s part and some signage indicating that there is limited parking.

The board was supportive of this action, and Commissioner Melanie Bacon asked Snoderly about how many similar situations there were like this in the county.

Pointing to an issue on North Whidbey, Commissioner Janet St. Clair said she wanted to have a conversation about managing the tension between public access at shorelines and the interests of nearby property owners.

Commissioner Jill Johnson said she thought Snoderly made the right choice, and expressed the importance of understanding that public access is for the public, and not just the neighborhood.