By JACK LYNCH, SHERRYL CHRISTIE, CURT GORDON and DOUG HOFIUS

Clinton Community Council officers

As 2015 comes to a close, we are thinking about what the Clinton Community Council has accomplished, as we work to represent the needs and interests of the Clinton community. Because we are an unincorporated area of the county, unlike Langley, we have no voice in our local politics. The council seeks to fill that gap, working with citizens and county and state government to make our viewpoint known. With the support of our Island County commissioner, Helen Price Johnson, we feel we have made good progress in making sure we are heard.

Some of the goals of the council this year have been to work with the state on traffic calming measures along Highway 525 and an improved, safer pick-up/drop-off area for ferry riders. The state has received funding for ferry improvements, and a portion of that will go toward making pick-up/drop-off area improvements. We are also supportive of the Port of South Whidbey’s role in seeking more parking in Mukilteo and, thereby, allowing for more ferry walk-ons to occur. Overhead loading for walk-ons from Clinton is another priority.

We have worked closely with the Island County planners to make sure that Clinton is represented in the update to the Island County Comprehensive Plan. We held two well-attended public meetings at the Clinton Community Hall for community information and input. We heard concerns about the residential and commercial zoning designations in Clinton. These are issues that need to be addressed to allow for a more reasonable development pattern in the community.

The consensus of those who participated in the Clinton Future Search Conference in 2012, as well as in a number of followup meetings, is to create sustainable economic development in Clinton. We are all saddened by the number of empty buildings along the Highway 525 corridor. Working with the port and their consultants, who have been retained to conduct a Clinton area market analysis, we hope to come up with a viable plan for revitalizing Clinton.

Early in 2016, Island County will be getting underway with design improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists along Highway 525 from the ferry dock to Deer Lake Road.

The council, the Clinton Progressive Association, and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce sponsored the well attended second annual Clinton community picnic this year. This was a fun opportunity for the community to gather, eat delicious barbecue, listen to the Heggenes Valley Boys and enjoy a beautiful day with friends and neighbors at Dan Porter Park.

There are positive signs that downtown Clinton is coming alive with new businesses: Abundant Earth Fiber, Britt’s Pickles, Crossfit, Make Whidbey, Cadée Distillery and Blueschool Arts. Some of these owners are also getting involved in the community. This bodes well for Clinton.

Clinton serves as the gateway to, and transportation hub of South Whidbey, and as such, all residents have a stake in the improvement and beautification of Clinton. The first impression of the island is established when people drive off the ferry in Clinton. We believe the gateway to our island should be more than empty storefronts and speeding cars. Visitors and residents deserve to find a safe, thriving village when they cross the water. We look forward to making this happen.