Two Annexation Positions. We understand there are two draft resolutions floating around regarding ANNEXATION worries. This is a subject that has been discussed by a number of board members and there appear to be two different positions: (1) Annexation is a threat and a concern that needs to be addressed now, and (2) Annexation is not a threat so why waste your time on the issue.
Annexation Discussion at Illahee Meeting. We found out today that ANNEXATION discussions will be the primary topic for the Illahee Community meeting on Feb 23rd at the Library beginning at 6:15 pm. Evidently there are enough questions regarding the issues that some expert responses are needed to decide which side is right.
County Expert to Speak. Eric Baker is the county's Special Projects Manager for the Kitsap County Commissioners and is one of the most knowledgeable experts at the county with respect to the Growth Management Act (GMA), the various Urban Growth Areas (UGA), and the issues related to annexation. Josh Brown, our County Commissioner, has asked Eric to attend our February 23rd meeting to discuss these issues and to try and answer any questions we might have.
Two Draft Resolutions. We have been asked to send out the two draft resolution documents as "Discussion Papers." We normally try to keep these Updates rather brief so we have decided to include them both as a file attachment - please click on the links.
Discussion Paper Option 1 Summary. The first discussion paper is a one page resolution entitled "Resolution to Remove Illahee from the Urban Growth Area (UGA)" and basically states that Illahee is "...primarily natural resource lands, geological features, and recreational lands that greatly impede urban levels of development and supporting infrastructure.." and therefor not suitable for the higher density development levels for UGAs. It references the various reasons Illahee should be excluded from the UGA and requests the current Illahee Greenbelt zoning (1-4 dwelling units per acre) be applied to the entire community. DISCUSSION PAPER OPTION 1 LINK
Discussion Paper Option 2 Summary. This discussion paper is very similar to Option 1, but is a two page resolution entitled "Resolution to Establish Illahee (or portions thereof) as a Greenbelt, and A Request for the Greenbelt to be Removed from the Urban Growth Area." This paper presents many of the same arguments of Option 1, but rather than requesting all of Illahee be designated as Illahee Greenbelt, requests only those areas "... where urban zoning is inappropriate, including the shoreline uplands north of the current Illahee Greenbelt." The paper notes that ".... Illahee has shoreline areas mostly in a natural state that have an incompatible upland urban zoning of 5-9 dwelling units per acre." DISCUSSION PAPER OPTION 2 LINK
Our Thoughts. We are intrigued the greenbelt issue is in both options and have heard greenbelts have been used by other counties to protect critical and environmentally sensitive areas. We don't know whether having a greenbelt classification is enough of a justification to remove it from an urban growth area. On the other hand, since greenbelts do not support urban levels of growth, it makes sense to removed them from the urban growth area.
Your Thoughts. We have been asked to put the two discussion paper options out for your consideration and to help facilitate discussions at the community meeting next Wednesday. We would also like to know your thoughts, which you can send to us, or respond to the Illahee Community blogsite, or on Facebook.
Just because something makes sense, it doesn't mean it will happen. You Illahee people are gutsy, and possibly naive, but I say, go for it and see if it works. God knows we need some areas preserved around here, and I can't think of a nicer area to protect from over development.
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