Towne Road closure and Dungeness Valley Creamery

A closed road's effect on small business

September 25th, 2023

I stopped by the Creamery today and spoke with the manager. He told me walk-in business has dropped off substantially during the year-long closure of Towne Road and the farm wishes to see the road reopened. The Creamery submitted the 122 signature petition supportive of reopening Towne Road. The manager said GPS driving directions often misguide perspective customers who, finding themselves on the north side of the closure, call the Creamery needing directions — once they learn about the 5 mile detour, they opt not to visit.

One Creamery employee, who has worked on the farm for over 20 years, lives on the north side of the closure and is forced to drive the 5-mile detour route 10 times a week. The manager also expressed concern that if the road dead ends at the Creamery, plans call for the County to create a large parking lot on what is now pasture land used by the farm — the Creamery has already ceded 25 acres to restore the floodplain, and losing even more will hurt their bottom line.

The manager is a former firefighter for CCFD3, so I asked him a hypothetical question: If the Sequim Fire Department were to respond to a fire at the Creamery and needed additional resources, would they request aide from the Dungeness Volunteer Fire Department on the north side of the closure? He replied yes, they would — the fire truck wouldn’t drive around though, it would likely drive on the levee. However, unlocking the gates, or stopping to use bolt cutters, would add additional response time.

When I asked if Commissioner Ozias had reached out to the Creamery he recalled that initially Ozias had, but that was quite some time ago — the manager did not know about the public meeting or that the Commissioners were seeking public comment.

Back to the petitions, I’m confused why members of a group called “Towne Road Working Farm Neighborhood” signed a petition calling for the closure of a road that would hurt a working farm. Fortunately, the Creamery has a robust delivery business that keeps them afloat.

I also visited the New Dungeness Nursery. Due to the next nearest nursery of that size being in Poulsbo, New Dungeness Nursery has not seen a drop in business — but they want the road reopened. The owners live in Dungeness and consider Towne Road to be an emergency evacuation route. When traveling to the west side of Sequim, Towne Road is the most convenient route for them.

Both the Creamery and the Nursery told me Nash’s Organic Produce wants Towne Road to reopen — Nash has a produce stand on the north side of the closure, and lives on the south side. He also works farmland on both sides of the closed road so driving farm equipment around the detour has cost both time and money. I tried to reach Nash today but just missed him at his home (I’d like to talk to him if anyone can connect us).

Dandelion Botanicals (in Dungeness) declined to comment.

I attempted to contact the Eberle Farm today but was unsuccessful. Commissioner Ozias repeatedly referenced the Eberle Farm’s wishes to keep Towne Road closed during the February 27th Work Session and cited it as part of his reasoning to delay the project. Someone directed me to a petition Derek Eberle initiated on change.org. The petition states: "Attention Dungeness River Trail Users, Walkers, and Joggers: Do you enjoy walking on the wide part of the new Dungeness River levee trail and seeing peaceful views of nature, river and farmland? The wider levee trail may potentially become a roadway in the near future (a new Towne Road connection), which would alter the character that you currently enjoy on the trail. A road would also adversely affect wildlife with the constant vehicular traffic, noise, and contaminants found on roadways. To request this segment stay a walking trail and not a road, please sign this petition." The petition has 321 signatures but was not provided in my public records request. The Eberle Farm is also a private wedding venue that can host 300 guests:

https://www.eberlefarm.com [website deactivated after this post was published].

I don't understand how the Eberle Farm is concerned that a road would "adversely affect wildlife with constant vehicle traffic” but also wishes to allow access to 300 guests, caterers, rental deliveries, florists, photographers, bands, etc.

Lastly, Towne Road resident Nola requested that I attempt turning onto Towne Road from both Madrona Terrace and Forest Ridge Drive. I completed both tasks and exercised no more caution than I would elsewhere. The speed limit is 35 there, perhaps Towne Road residents can request that the speed be lowered if speeding is a concern. I did see a “radar sign” on Lotzgesell Road that flashes when speed exceeds 25mph — very effective. I’m guessing area residents are impacted by the influx of traffic on Lotzgesell while it serves as an alternate route during the closure.