Other similar projects have successfully included a road along the restoration project.
“King County successfully completed the 145-acre Fall City Floodplain Restoration Project, improving habitat and protecting farmland and homes along the Snoqualmie River.
Crews embedded logs in the historical and new side channels they excavated to add ecological complexity. They installed underground flood protection structures along a newly aligned road that runs along the right bank. Along the left bank, crews installed an earthen berm that protects farmland from increased flood risks while reforesting the area with native plants.”
Thanks. Some other noteworthy road involved projects…
Nisqually Delta
“Among the proposed changes are replacing and extending the I-5 bridges over the river, adding HOV lanes in both directions of travel and adding a pedestrian and bike path separated by a concrete barrier.”
“Work will involve a new 1,614-foot-long bridge across the estuary and a redesigned intersection, including a left-turn lane from northbound U.S. 101 to Duckabush Road. The modernized highway design will meet current safety standards.”
From Nick Kristof's latest book: "I'd still argue that journalism is a calling with purpose and meaning. We tilt at windmills for a reason, and occasionally we hit something....is an act of hope. It rests on the conviction that excavating the truth makes a difference, that sunlight is a disinfectant for government, that reporting can be a battering ram on behalf of people suffering injustice."
"Paving the area would not only disrupt the habitat but also impose financial liabilities, contrary to the financial asset that the current open space represents."
What financial liabilities are imposed by paving? The budget has been set and funded. Unless there is a veiled threat here or veiled reference to unfounded lawsuits against the county?
Connector roads support revenue through commerce, jobs, etc. The area will still be open space. There aren't any casinos going up....yet. It can and will still attract nature lovers and be yet another "financial asset" with a paved road AND be safer for those nature lovers.
So much greenwashing going on in our little county.
I find it interesting that the "Tribe" is in favor of a three year waiting period, before the road is paved, but saw fit to bid the Paving job to finish the road, a few weeks ago. Hmmm.
I’m inserting John Worthingtons comment from the 15.... cause I like the last paragraphs... John Worthington
John’s Substack
May 15
·
edited May 15
The trail only version Eberlie's, the tribe and the rest of the open space league want cannot pass SEPA with a "DNS." To have all this traffic and travel from all over the globe has significant impact. The impact fees to cover that environmental damage if proportionate to the impact fees we pay are astronomical. In other words, it needs a new SEPA. Right now I am thinking the DNS for neighborhood use is in line with the current DNS and minimal. With that minimal neighborhood DNS, the amount of tire particle contamination would not come close to the science obtained amount of traffic required for stormwater mitigation used by WSDOT at 101 over the Dungeness. It would be a fact that DLTA's own desires to increase traffic beyond neighborhood use to a global trail advocate clientele would require a new SEPA and would alter the current DNS designation. Even with that amount o traffic increase it still would not reach the levels on 101, Elwha or Jimmycomelateley. They are going to have to remove a whole lot of concrete if they want to push their window dressing in a court of law.
There is no way on paper the DLTA can win this if all the evidence is properly briefed and submitted. I will intervene to make sure that happens.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine relayed that the DLTA has posted even more illegal signage on the levee and in the school house parking lot. What part of vandalism and illegal posting don't they get? No pictures to provide but I'll try to get some tomorrow. Remind me, who do we call to get that addressed? Non-emergency sheriff number? I know Oziass won't care. Or is it even worth being concerned because they just keep asking the regular levee walkers the same thing over and over again (donate more $$ to our frivolous law suit to keep the road closed to everyone but me)?
I sent it to Jeff. Its up to him to decide if that is doable. Its long. He has my blessing. He may be doing his own thing with that. He does an excellent job of reframing issues and augmenting the story.
The attorney “should” have second thoughts. What a damning letter of evidence and culpability. What blind arrogance these DLTA members have. Maniacal….
As I invision…….After politely responding to the DLTA law attorney explaining exactly what the actual situation is, DLTA can pursue a cease and desist letter then DLTA can take further legal action in the form of a summons and complaint served with a lawsuit. The County should countersue Jamestown tribe for breech of the levee and extra costs due to the declared emergency and all of the extra measures that have had to take place because of the breech including any unnecessary & unwarranted lawsuits. The County and Jamestown Tribe are partners, that is what has been stated time and time again on this restoration project, yet the tribe can breech a levee and be held harmless but the County can’t move forward or fart without being sued when they are clearly doing their homework when it comes to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and Washington Department of Ecology. Something is seriously wrong with this whole picture! Attorneys love issues like these because it means job security for them, good DLTA can pay for it all and still end up with a trail and A ROAD!
Great thinking. Left wondering why the Dungeness Levee Trail ADVOCATES (my emphasis obvs) would prefer to spend their collected "donations" on propaganda and lawsuits vs doing something proactive that would actually enhance the "nature lovers" experience of the Dungeness River where a low-speed, pollution mitigated road with adjacent trail that leads to/from a river walk will exist? The trail will be there even after the road is complete. So why not actually use all your donations (whatever they may be) to advocate for things that could enhance that trail? Picnic tables on the mini-plateau next to the river near the school house portion of the trail? Audio and visual talking boxes along the trail (like they have on many other National Park trails and even at the Railroad bridge (try to flap your wings like a hummingbird - in case you haven't seen it or stopped to read the signs)). Enhancing the official trail for disabled users. They can support any of these things with the road being completed and the adjacent trail in place if what they really want is for everyone to access this wonderful natural corridor. However if their primary objective is to close the road to everyone except a few select folks, well, then let's use that donated money to support a lawsuit. Anyone that has donated to them is naive, ignorant or willfully supporting a scam.
How long after we're driving across Towne Road, end-to-end, will the DLTA continue in its existence? Iit really isn't an advocate for a trail that is in the plans. It's an advocate for some other special interest, self-serving entities.
Went out to the levee today, took a lot of pictures. I still ask the question…..a lot of Clallam County roads have run off, some roads cross over creeks at various points multiple times, some highways cross rivers multiple times, there are parking lots constructed next to creeks, development, farming with creeks running thru them & none have filtration systems that I know of. Will this threat of a pending lawsuit result in a total revamp of all Clallam County Roads to be as protective for our salmon as .06 mile of Towne Road? The restoration project is a tiny piece of the original flood plain that flowed out to the Dungeness Bay before the river was contained to allow for farming and development & minimize flooding in the lower Dungeness area. The restoration project has Pros but it also possibly created a lot more Cons than what previously existed. As for salmon, less cold water in two shallow channels is not desired fish habitat, nor is warm pools of stagnant water fish habitat for small developing fry, great area for predators to feed off trapped fish in the marshy pools & wonderful for mosquito population. Wild life adapt to most any type of environment & there is still plenty of open space here in Clallam County.
Excellent questions. There are so many places to start in re: road removal that might be damaging to the river, right? And the whole of Clallam County will adjust because.... their roads will be closed.
Was the change to the original river flood plain, over a century ago, which was to allow for farming and development and to minimize flooding in the lower Dungeness area, by any chance,completed by and / or beneficial to a few pioneer families (vs the tribe) and later to, maybe, ahem, a family that now has a Barn Venue near the river?
Or did the tribe change the flow? Just asking for a friend. :-)
Once I went back to the very beginning of the blog and read every comment.
Something caught my attention, repeatedly. Then I started over and read John Worthington's comments all the way through. I do not know Mr. Worthington, or if he is aware, as I am, of this very playbook being used at many various parts around the Country. But the more I read about how our Federal, State and County governments seem to use tribal influence for pet projects they can't make happen any other way, the more I think this was never about Towne Road in the first place.
Incredible! All this for a road that has been planned for eternity, is needed, and has ZERO impact on critters and wildlife. It even has a frickin foot path for walkers. What is wrong with these fools that oppose it??? Are they paid agitators? Sheesh!
Examination of Towne Road question, “is the restoration successful after all?” My answer is the Dungeness River has been split into channels both filled with less COLD water than having one larger main river channel. The north & west levees hold standing water without a way to escape back into the east river channel, causing stagnant water pools where wildlife are able to prey upon the smaller salmon mainly at the northeast corner where the levees meet. Which in turn creates inadequate water quality of any kind especially for the small growing fish that will live in that neighborhood for almost a year before going out to the bay. Since the project only restored a portion of the river that naturally flowed into the Dungeness Bay was the restoration project really a success or did it create more serious problems for fish than existed? Back before any levee the river overflowed it’s banks and water returned over the land to the Bay before farmland (Nash’s) & development occurred (3 Crabs area). After installing the old levee farming and development occurred without threat of flooding to those areas. So the new Towne Road restoration area is only a small portion of a much bigger picture of how water flows & what is really best for salmon survival & the protection of the small fry. Avoiding further depletion & destruction of the salmon population in the Dungeness River is a hard realization under the current restoration circumstances.
Jeff, I have some thoughts for folks to ponder.....1st - The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe has never hidden what they have always wanted, which is to have Towne Road closed - I no longer agree with their position, after witnessing the public process but at least they have been consistent; and what did the Clinton campaign always say? "Never let a good crisis go to waste."
2nd - Clallam County, Protect the Peninsula's Future, Sierra Club, and several others including JST have been trying since the early 90's to create a greenway on the Dungeness River. I believe Mark Ozias is now on board since becoming Commissioner. He continues to bring up the Comp Plan and a corridor up and down the Dungeness River for public use (greenway). It's been on folks minds because of the unique nature of the Dungeness River - that of being 1 of 3 rivers in Washington State where the river beds are wholly privately owned. The name of the other 2 escapes me at the moment. I think that irritates folks that it is privately owned and they are not at liberty to do as they please on the river "for the greater good". I think Tragedy of the Commons is more appropriate . This was my first battle as property manager of the property at the mouth of the Dungeness River and one that continues today.
3rd- the Eberle's - I have no first hand knowledge of their future plans but it is fascinating to me that Bruce Emery is now reviewing the Agricultural Accessory Use codes to assist local farms to create more revenue. A very fast growing movement is something call Farm Stay whereby guests can be put up in a variety of accommodations on farmland and have the option to participate in the workings of the farm or not. They can have yurts, tents, rv's, vans, etc.. You can look up HipCamp or Farm Stay Washington State to get an idea.
2nd - That's interesting stuff. The Tragedy of the Commons is already playing out in our National Parks, where people trample restricted, sensitive meadows to star gaze. Left behind are dead native plants and trash. The old levee trail used to have a lot of litter, dog poop and worse. Similar thinking and can definitely see that playing out here. A friend walked the levee yesterday and one of the signs for the memorial event was trashed in the ditch next to the entrance to the Eberle's driveway. Nice. Already happening.
On the other side, if this all gets to be the greenway along the river, I guess the Game Farm may have to relocate?
3rd - Dude ranches were an early similar model of Farm Stay. They also do this in New Zealand on sheep stations (probably Australia too). There is a benefit to the farmers, too, in sometimes getting some "free help" although I've read that's overrated and usually takes more effort to host visitors than to get them to do actual work.
No clue on what the Eberle's are planning either. I wouldn't begrudge them having some tourist farming or other type of business IF the tourists / customers / visitors arrived on a Towne Road that is opened to everyone. That may be the biggest issue about a partially closed Towne Road for many of us. Most people probably don't care much about what the Eberle's do ON their own property (as long as it doesn't involve being paid for with taxpayer money and it isn't harming others). Therein is the one exception (and it could be that's a minority belief here): the green washing hypocrisy of "saving the salmon" to keep Towne Road closed to everyone except them, while they pollute the wetlands on their property. I would think the Eberles would want Towne Road re-opened to support a Farm Stay model or barn venue or even a cider stand. (The cider stand reference: Mr. Eberle has told others, when asked what he farms, that he grows juice apples for cider and mows his pastureland for hay.)
For anyone that sees illegal signage at the North or South Towne Road gates and in the Dungeness School House parking lot, per CCC 33.57.050, it must be COUNTY permitted signage or it must be removed. Please file a complaint with the Clallam County Code Enforcement if you believe the signage you're looking at is not permitted. Residential violations start at a $100 fine. Non-residential are higher.
I would expect the DLTA signage fines to be non residential....? But I'm not a code expert. Just happened upon this because I wanted my garage sale sign to be in compliance.
You might want to request that these fines be enforced until all signage is removed and not returned because these are repeated violations that have been happening continually. If they are permitted by the county, they should show the permit number on their signs.
It looks like they paid to use a lawyer('s letterhead) to repeat all the state and county codes back to the county. The county's attorney is probably shaking his head about this one.
On further review, this lawyer (it's s one lawyer shop with an admin) represented a lot of greenwashing clients.
Other similar projects have successfully included a road along the restoration project.
“King County successfully completed the 145-acre Fall City Floodplain Restoration Project, improving habitat and protecting farmland and homes along the Snoqualmie River.
Crews embedded logs in the historical and new side channels they excavated to add ecological complexity. They installed underground flood protection structures along a newly aligned road that runs along the right bank. Along the left bank, crews installed an earthen berm that protects farmland from increased flood risks while reforesting the area with native plants.”
https://www.kingcounty.gov/so-so/dept/dnrp/about-king-county/about-dnrp/newsroom/news-releases/04-24-fall-city-floodplain-restoration
Right on Morgan Fairbanks.
Thanks. Some other noteworthy road involved projects…
Nisqually Delta
“Among the proposed changes are replacing and extending the I-5 bridges over the river, adding HOV lanes in both directions of travel and adding a pedestrian and bike path separated by a concrete barrier.”
https://amp.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article278076337.html
And the Duckabush estuary restoration project
“Work will involve a new 1,614-foot-long bridge across the estuary and a redesigned intersection, including a left-turn lane from northbound U.S. 101 to Duckabush Road. The modernized highway design will meet current safety standards.”
https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/public-invited-learn-about-duckabush-estuary-restoration-project
Amazing references. Thank you.
Please send that to the Commissioners so it gets on the administrative record,
From Nick Kristof's latest book: "I'd still argue that journalism is a calling with purpose and meaning. We tilt at windmills for a reason, and occasionally we hit something....is an act of hope. It rests on the conviction that excavating the truth makes a difference, that sunlight is a disinfectant for government, that reporting can be a battering ram on behalf of people suffering injustice."
Keep up shining that light and stay pesky!!!!
Beautiful
French and Johnson deserve even more credit.
This letter reads like Ozias's word salad.
This part was odd....
"Paving the area would not only disrupt the habitat but also impose financial liabilities, contrary to the financial asset that the current open space represents."
What financial liabilities are imposed by paving? The budget has been set and funded. Unless there is a veiled threat here or veiled reference to unfounded lawsuits against the county?
Connector roads support revenue through commerce, jobs, etc. The area will still be open space. There aren't any casinos going up....yet. It can and will still attract nature lovers and be yet another "financial asset" with a paved road AND be safer for those nature lovers.
So much greenwashing going on in our little county.
The fools probably think they're paving the bottom of the Dungeness river!
I find it interesting that the "Tribe" is in favor of a three year waiting period, before the road is paved, but saw fit to bid the Paving job to finish the road, a few weeks ago. Hmmm.
Would this have happened if they had gotten the contract? Hmm.
Great point............and could this be used in response to the legal representation??
I’m inserting John Worthingtons comment from the 15.... cause I like the last paragraphs... John Worthington
John’s Substack
May 15
·
edited May 15
The trail only version Eberlie's, the tribe and the rest of the open space league want cannot pass SEPA with a "DNS." To have all this traffic and travel from all over the globe has significant impact. The impact fees to cover that environmental damage if proportionate to the impact fees we pay are astronomical. In other words, it needs a new SEPA. Right now I am thinking the DNS for neighborhood use is in line with the current DNS and minimal. With that minimal neighborhood DNS, the amount of tire particle contamination would not come close to the science obtained amount of traffic required for stormwater mitigation used by WSDOT at 101 over the Dungeness. It would be a fact that DLTA's own desires to increase traffic beyond neighborhood use to a global trail advocate clientele would require a new SEPA and would alter the current DNS designation. Even with that amount o traffic increase it still would not reach the levels on 101, Elwha or Jimmycomelateley. They are going to have to remove a whole lot of concrete if they want to push their window dressing in a court of law.
There is no way on paper the DLTA can win this if all the evidence is properly briefed and submitted. I will intervene to make sure that happens.
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I submitted a huge word document to them all today.
Thank you John!
👍🏻Right on!!!
THANKS JOHN!!!
Will we be able to read it John?
Meanwhile, a friend of mine relayed that the DLTA has posted even more illegal signage on the levee and in the school house parking lot. What part of vandalism and illegal posting don't they get? No pictures to provide but I'll try to get some tomorrow. Remind me, who do we call to get that addressed? Non-emergency sheriff number? I know Oziass won't care. Or is it even worth being concerned because they just keep asking the regular levee walkers the same thing over and over again (donate more $$ to our frivolous law suit to keep the road closed to everyone but me)?
I sent it to Jeff. Its up to him to decide if that is doable. Its long. He has my blessing. He may be doing his own thing with that. He does an excellent job of reframing issues and augmenting the story.
Sent! If anyone else wants a copy, let me know.
I would love a copy, kind sir.
Coming right up!
It will make a good bar b que sauce❣️⚡️
Yes - pleezzzeee!
You got it Ms. Robb.
The attorney “should” have second thoughts. What a damning letter of evidence and culpability. What blind arrogance these DLTA members have. Maniacal….
Really really well done John…
🐲🐉🐲🐉😂😂😂😂
Its hasty. But, its good because I have been playing Dungeons and Dragons a long time and have been collecting many applicable spells and potions.
😂😂😂😂🐉🐲🐉🐲
Thank you John!
As I invision…….After politely responding to the DLTA law attorney explaining exactly what the actual situation is, DLTA can pursue a cease and desist letter then DLTA can take further legal action in the form of a summons and complaint served with a lawsuit. The County should countersue Jamestown tribe for breech of the levee and extra costs due to the declared emergency and all of the extra measures that have had to take place because of the breech including any unnecessary & unwarranted lawsuits. The County and Jamestown Tribe are partners, that is what has been stated time and time again on this restoration project, yet the tribe can breech a levee and be held harmless but the County can’t move forward or fart without being sued when they are clearly doing their homework when it comes to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and Washington Department of Ecology. Something is seriously wrong with this whole picture! Attorneys love issues like these because it means job security for them, good DLTA can pay for it all and still end up with a trail and A ROAD!
Great thinking. Left wondering why the Dungeness Levee Trail ADVOCATES (my emphasis obvs) would prefer to spend their collected "donations" on propaganda and lawsuits vs doing something proactive that would actually enhance the "nature lovers" experience of the Dungeness River where a low-speed, pollution mitigated road with adjacent trail that leads to/from a river walk will exist? The trail will be there even after the road is complete. So why not actually use all your donations (whatever they may be) to advocate for things that could enhance that trail? Picnic tables on the mini-plateau next to the river near the school house portion of the trail? Audio and visual talking boxes along the trail (like they have on many other National Park trails and even at the Railroad bridge (try to flap your wings like a hummingbird - in case you haven't seen it or stopped to read the signs)). Enhancing the official trail for disabled users. They can support any of these things with the road being completed and the adjacent trail in place if what they really want is for everyone to access this wonderful natural corridor. However if their primary objective is to close the road to everyone except a few select folks, well, then let's use that donated money to support a lawsuit. Anyone that has donated to them is naive, ignorant or willfully supporting a scam.
How long after we're driving across Towne Road, end-to-end, will the DLTA continue in its existence? Iit really isn't an advocate for a trail that is in the plans. It's an advocate for some other special interest, self-serving entities.
These people are like a petulant pus filled zit on the ass of society
Went out to the levee today, took a lot of pictures. I still ask the question…..a lot of Clallam County roads have run off, some roads cross over creeks at various points multiple times, some highways cross rivers multiple times, there are parking lots constructed next to creeks, development, farming with creeks running thru them & none have filtration systems that I know of. Will this threat of a pending lawsuit result in a total revamp of all Clallam County Roads to be as protective for our salmon as .06 mile of Towne Road? The restoration project is a tiny piece of the original flood plain that flowed out to the Dungeness Bay before the river was contained to allow for farming and development & minimize flooding in the lower Dungeness area. The restoration project has Pros but it also possibly created a lot more Cons than what previously existed. As for salmon, less cold water in two shallow channels is not desired fish habitat, nor is warm pools of stagnant water fish habitat for small developing fry, great area for predators to feed off trapped fish in the marshy pools & wonderful for mosquito population. Wild life adapt to most any type of environment & there is still plenty of open space here in Clallam County.
Excellent questions. There are so many places to start in re: road removal that might be damaging to the river, right? And the whole of Clallam County will adjust because.... their roads will be closed.
Was the change to the original river flood plain, over a century ago, which was to allow for farming and development and to minimize flooding in the lower Dungeness area, by any chance,completed by and / or beneficial to a few pioneer families (vs the tribe) and later to, maybe, ahem, a family that now has a Barn Venue near the river?
Or did the tribe change the flow? Just asking for a friend. :-)
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Deborah Gillem • Blue Mountain/Fern Road
Once I went back to the very beginning of the blog and read every comment.
Something caught my attention, repeatedly. Then I started over and read John Worthington's comments all the way through. I do not know Mr. Worthington, or if he is aware, as I am, of this very playbook being used at many various parts around the Country. But the more I read about how our Federal, State and County governments seem to use tribal influence for pet projects they can't make happen any other way, the more I think this was never about Towne Road in the first place.
Incredible! All this for a road that has been planned for eternity, is needed, and has ZERO impact on critters and wildlife. It even has a frickin foot path for walkers. What is wrong with these fools that oppose it??? Are they paid agitators? Sheesh!
Could it be as simple as paying off some gambling debts at the casino???
Thank you Jeff.
You're welcome ladies!
Examination of Towne Road question, “is the restoration successful after all?” My answer is the Dungeness River has been split into channels both filled with less COLD water than having one larger main river channel. The north & west levees hold standing water without a way to escape back into the east river channel, causing stagnant water pools where wildlife are able to prey upon the smaller salmon mainly at the northeast corner where the levees meet. Which in turn creates inadequate water quality of any kind especially for the small growing fish that will live in that neighborhood for almost a year before going out to the bay. Since the project only restored a portion of the river that naturally flowed into the Dungeness Bay was the restoration project really a success or did it create more serious problems for fish than existed? Back before any levee the river overflowed it’s banks and water returned over the land to the Bay before farmland (Nash’s) & development occurred (3 Crabs area). After installing the old levee farming and development occurred without threat of flooding to those areas. So the new Towne Road restoration area is only a small portion of a much bigger picture of how water flows & what is really best for salmon survival & the protection of the small fry. Avoiding further depletion & destruction of the salmon population in the Dungeness River is a hard realization under the current restoration circumstances.
Jeff, I have some thoughts for folks to ponder.....1st - The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe has never hidden what they have always wanted, which is to have Towne Road closed - I no longer agree with their position, after witnessing the public process but at least they have been consistent; and what did the Clinton campaign always say? "Never let a good crisis go to waste."
2nd - Clallam County, Protect the Peninsula's Future, Sierra Club, and several others including JST have been trying since the early 90's to create a greenway on the Dungeness River. I believe Mark Ozias is now on board since becoming Commissioner. He continues to bring up the Comp Plan and a corridor up and down the Dungeness River for public use (greenway). It's been on folks minds because of the unique nature of the Dungeness River - that of being 1 of 3 rivers in Washington State where the river beds are wholly privately owned. The name of the other 2 escapes me at the moment. I think that irritates folks that it is privately owned and they are not at liberty to do as they please on the river "for the greater good". I think Tragedy of the Commons is more appropriate . This was my first battle as property manager of the property at the mouth of the Dungeness River and one that continues today.
3rd- the Eberle's - I have no first hand knowledge of their future plans but it is fascinating to me that Bruce Emery is now reviewing the Agricultural Accessory Use codes to assist local farms to create more revenue. A very fast growing movement is something call Farm Stay whereby guests can be put up in a variety of accommodations on farmland and have the option to participate in the workings of the farm or not. They can have yurts, tents, rv's, vans, etc.. You can look up HipCamp or Farm Stay Washington State to get an idea.
Good pondering.
1st - 100% agree.
2nd - That's interesting stuff. The Tragedy of the Commons is already playing out in our National Parks, where people trample restricted, sensitive meadows to star gaze. Left behind are dead native plants and trash. The old levee trail used to have a lot of litter, dog poop and worse. Similar thinking and can definitely see that playing out here. A friend walked the levee yesterday and one of the signs for the memorial event was trashed in the ditch next to the entrance to the Eberle's driveway. Nice. Already happening.
On the other side, if this all gets to be the greenway along the river, I guess the Game Farm may have to relocate?
3rd - Dude ranches were an early similar model of Farm Stay. They also do this in New Zealand on sheep stations (probably Australia too). There is a benefit to the farmers, too, in sometimes getting some "free help" although I've read that's overrated and usually takes more effort to host visitors than to get them to do actual work.
No clue on what the Eberle's are planning either. I wouldn't begrudge them having some tourist farming or other type of business IF the tourists / customers / visitors arrived on a Towne Road that is opened to everyone. That may be the biggest issue about a partially closed Towne Road for many of us. Most people probably don't care much about what the Eberle's do ON their own property (as long as it doesn't involve being paid for with taxpayer money and it isn't harming others). Therein is the one exception (and it could be that's a minority belief here): the green washing hypocrisy of "saving the salmon" to keep Towne Road closed to everyone except them, while they pollute the wetlands on their property. I would think the Eberles would want Towne Road re-opened to support a Farm Stay model or barn venue or even a cider stand. (The cider stand reference: Mr. Eberle has told others, when asked what he farms, that he grows juice apples for cider and mows his pastureland for hay.)
Par for the course I have a feeling they wouldn’t just die.
Jeff ... thank you again ❣️
Tangentially related....
For anyone that sees illegal signage at the North or South Towne Road gates and in the Dungeness School House parking lot, per CCC 33.57.050, it must be COUNTY permitted signage or it must be removed. Please file a complaint with the Clallam County Code Enforcement if you believe the signage you're looking at is not permitted. Residential violations start at a $100 fine. Non-residential are higher.
I would expect the DLTA signage fines to be non residential....? But I'm not a code expert. Just happened upon this because I wanted my garage sale sign to be in compliance.
You might want to request that these fines be enforced until all signage is removed and not returned because these are repeated violations that have been happening continually. If they are permitted by the county, they should show the permit number on their signs.
Online form to file a complaint can be found here: https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/formcenter/Community-Development-15/Community-Development-Code-Enforcement-C-80
It looks like they paid to use a lawyer('s letterhead) to repeat all the state and county codes back to the county. The county's attorney is probably shaking his head about this one.
On further review, this lawyer (it's s one lawyer shop with an admin) represented a lot of greenwashing clients.
https://teleginlaw.com/cases
To be clear, he only shares the cases he's prevailed in. Not the ones he lost, of course.