My previous comment pretty much summed up where Ozias was headed as referenced by his letter dated March 5. Ozias has been called out so much we’ve now gone beyond the point of no return. Whatever he says from this point forward must be taken with one little teeny tiny grain of levee dust.
The project, located in the lower Dungeness area, was to improve salmon habitat while also maintaining a public county road. The Commissioners and county officials at the time, debated how to vacate the old road, ensure the road and bridge were funded, and how to mitigate traffic concerns. https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/milestone-met-for-3-crabs-restoration-project/
It would seem the Commissioners should look to the 3 Crabs Restoration project as an example of how to restore salmon habitat while balancing the need for a public road in the lower Dungeness area.
Three Crabs is far more critical for community access than Towne ever was. Towne will certainly be missed as a convenience to some in the community, but it will still be freely available for unobstructed emergency use when the unnecessary gates are removed, something the Eberle's would no doubt welcome as the locked gates are for them a serious impediment to the same free use of county roads that you all enjoy. They did not ask for this. It was forced upon them by events outside of their control, and yet they welcomed it in the interests of flood plain restoration in spite of the tremendous disruption to their lives for the last few years--which this special interest group has only succeeded in magnifying relentlessly. And you all have exactly the same access to this wonderful evolving wetland as they do, except you do not have to constantly unlock and lock gates to access the road system.
We don't have the same access. You pretty much just said that. They have access to the "road system". We can't drive our vehicles on the road bed anytime we want. If they don't like the gates, support re-opening the road with an adjacent trail instead of trying to sell this as a "pedestrian only nature trail" which it is not as you so clearly point out. It's part of the "ROAD SYSTEM". Thank you for helping to confirm that.
The Eberle's don't drive on the levee because it is their preference. It is because they have no other option short of aircraft or magic. These arguments are absurd. Thank you for meeting my expectations.
Charles did you come here to get your preconceived expectations met or to read some facts and data? I readily admit that I share opinons and you don't have to agree with them.
BUT this website is full of facts and data, including information that has come from the Eberles. If you are not open to the facts and data and want to engage in a debate, I think we can do that too. Welcome. If you're not open to learning facts and data OR you don't want to engage in healthy debate, that's ok too. It was nice chatting. See you around.
To be clear: I don't begrudge the Eberles having to get to and from their property. It should not have come to this and it SHOULD be a temporary situation. It can be resolved via Option 2. Option 2 is an extremely reasonable request to resolve this for everyone and not just a few. If you're looking to blame someone, talk to Mr. Ozias. Perhaps the Eberles are being used.
Fact: Towne Road was not supposed to be closed for even one day.
If it hadn't closed, we'd all have the option to drive on it whenever we wanted AND this conversation would not be needed. As it stands, the Eberle's situation should and hopefully will be a temporary situation. A temporary inconvenience. Once they open the road to everyone, no one has to open any gates unless it's on their own property.
Fact: The Eberles have CHOSEN to be the face of the DLTA and have CHOSEN to publicly support the PERMANENT closure of Towne Road, except for their use.
Opinion: I would have more sympathy for the Eberles' temporary inconvenience IF they were not hypocritical about their environmental bona fides. They drive heavy machinery and automobiles over the wetlands on their property and mow the wetlands for "hay". Is it their right to do that? Absolutely. Is it a good thing for the environment? Absolutely not.
You would see this with your own eyes if you walk the levee during the dry season. Open your eyes and you'll see it all from the levee. Are they environmentally friendly when it suits their needs? Because that's the perception that they leave me with. Either that or somewhat ignorant or naive about what being environmentally friendly really is?
Question: Even today, at this moment, how are the walkers on the levee protected if the Eberles have a farm tour? A party? If an emergency vehicle needs to come through? If Nash needs to bring some large farm equipment through? Who's going to chase the walkers off the trail so the traffic can safely move through? What if there are disabled people, loose toddlers, loose dogs, hearing impaired and so on? A road and adjacent trail are safer for the walkers and the drivers.
Question: What happens in the future if the Eberles want to start a retail business from their property? Do you think the county should limit their right to start/run a business from there so as to keep the traffic and the tire pollution down (which would result in a lawsuit of some sort, I'm sure) or do you think the road that we funded should also be used to support the traffic to their business? There is no other situation in the county (that I'm aware of) where we, the taxpayers, fund a road and its maintenance for a business. This is a real situation that could happen. Think about it.
The road bed is funded by taxpayer money, not the Eberles alone (I had to add "alone" because I will just assume that they pay taxes in the county). The road bed has been designed and built to protect the environment. We should all be allowed to drive on it.
For the record, I walk on the levee and I want the road re-opened with the adjacent trail. The river and nature will be fine. Probably a lot healthier than the wetlands that keep getting trampled by farm and other vehicles..
I'm hoping you'll stick around and delve into the facts and data here a bit more and not just look for my opinion.
What I find here is in my view a misleading narrative, derived from 'facts and data' taken largely out of context, and spun with extreme confirmation bias, not the least of which is the disingenuous manipulation of the Eberle's comments. (Why do you feel the need to make a point of assuming they pay taxes in the county? That kind of superfluous offhand insinuation is typical of the tone here). I've learned enough of what I regard as the plain facts and data already, thank you, to have come to the conclusion that a paved road is not the best use of the levee for the community at large, nor are the political and social lynchings being advocated here relevant to its best use. They do serve other agendas that seem to have become important for many here to air. But I am grateful that our always imperfect political system has somehow brought about the potential for the graveled levee to remain as it currently is being used, just without gates and locks so that it will allow unimpeded emergency access--and not be another excuse for insurance rates to be raised any more than they already are.
To address some concerns you raise:
-Haying a couple times a year is minimally disturbing. Certainly as opposed to tillage crops.
-People of all abilities somehow manage to avoid emergency vehicles (and the others mentioned) on other kinds of surfaces and loose toddlers and dogs would be just as vulnerable with a road/trail. -The gravel surface and its maintenance are not funded exclusively for the Eberle's. It is there for the community and everyone beyond it. The Eberle's are part of the community and, unfortunately for them, will have to put up with what will continue being an inconvenience for them that virtually no one else in the county (or likely in the entire state and beyond) has to contend with, though they willingly accept it-- and it is certainly not an advantage. -As for your last-- I thought about it...so, all businesses I guess (this is ridiculous) are supported by roads, in my expert opinion as a user of both roads and businesses. And... and... what if YOU wanted to start a retail business on YOUR property? Where the Eberle's are concerned, judging from what they have communicated on nextdoor and at the Commissioner's meetings, they seem intelligent enough to realize that attempting a self-supporting "brick-and-mortar" retail sales operation on their farm with that kind of constrained access would lead to certain bankruptcy. I guess they could prove me wrong someday, and if they do, more power to them. It's between them and the county and any neighbor who has grounds to object. That's all I got on that one.
One thing that is puzzling me is this constant claim that "Towne Road was not supposed to be closed for even one day." If that was actually the case, it seems it would have been logistically a nightmare for the deconstruction and reconstruction of the levee. I would appreciate some clarity in that regard. If you can offer it objectively, that is some information that is at least interesting.
Glad to see you're still engaged and thank you for your opinions.
I don't see many facts and data on the DLTA website but it does support your belief of what should happen to Towne Road. There's a lot of feeling out there on that site. There are a lot of emotional pleas wrapped in an environmentally friendly, biodegradable but not entirely accurate wrapper. The implication that people are only going to be inconvenienced if the road remains closed is an easy-to-swallow-pill.
I realise you live on the south side of Towne Road and want to keep it closed. Who could blame you, mate? Keep the traffic down over there and let it flow to Ward and Lotzgezell and Sequim-Dungeness because it's better for you and your neighbors. Understandable. NIMBY all the way, eh? It might even increase your property values in case you want to move. BUT increased road budget needs to be appropriated to maintain all those roads due to the extra traffic. and the speed limit on Sequim Dungeness changed to avoid additional serious mishaps with all the extra traffic. If it wasn't "that much traffic" then why do so many people who live south of the current blockage want to keep Towne Road closed? Oh wait. It's all about nature. Everyone that lives south of Towne Road is a bona fide environmentalist and y'all drive electric vehicles and all that. I get it..
Let me stress again for you, in case I was not abundantly clear. My opinion of the Eberles is just that. I clearly stated it as that in response to your defense of the Eberles. I don't know them. I only know OF them through their public statements, their social media statements, their documented unfounded accusations of people who do not agree with their position, and from what I've witnessed on the levee. I shared my opinion here, based on that. I stated it was an opinion based on my observations, much like you're sharing your opinion of this site based on your observations. Do I know if they pay taxes here in the county? No. Do you know if I pay taxes here in the county? No. Insinuate away.
I have talked with environmental scientists (real ones with PhDs and everything) in the past. The best thing you can do with wetlands is let them be wetlands. Let the ecosystem do what it needs to do and don't invade the area of the wetlands or the "fringe". The riverside of the levee is chock full of wetlands and yet there is irony in your defense of haying them "a few times a year." Maybe we should open up those wetlands for haying too? That could help pay for the parking lot on the south side of the currently closed road bed. Yes - till-farming can be invasive, but it's frowned upon doing it over wetlands in this part of the state anymore.
Places where people share other surfaces with vehicles usually have a separate sidewalk, a curb, a separated path from vehicles, so they really don't walk down the middle of the roadbed and "share it" with vehicular traffic unless they're looking for something, confused, mentally ill, etc. If an emergency vehicle has to come through, it's on the road and the people are normally on the pedestrian sidewalk or pedestrian trail. This is, in a nutshell, pedantic. Practically the definition of it.
I don't follow your business/road debate defense at all. Public roads are open to the public. We fund roads via tax dollars for everyone to use. Businesses locate off public roads and, in some cases, they have to pay for road improvements (think big box stores like Costco and Walmart) as part of building their business in a specific location and everyone gets to use those road improvements. Kinda' the opposite of what we have here. You follow? You drive on publicly funded roads to get to a business. I can drive on those same roads even if I don't want to go to that business. It's not just the Eberles. What happens if they sell in the future and the new owners want to open a retail shop? For your peace of mind, I can't open a retail shop on my property. My CC&Rs forbid it. I'd have to rent a space somewhere. Hope that answers your question.
My understanding about Towne Road never needing to be closed....the breach of the original levee by the tribe caused old Towne Road to be closed prematurely due to flood danger. Otherwise, it has been my understanding based on what I have read that the original plan was a transitional plan from old Towne Road to new Towne Road, similar to what they are doing on 101 with the fish bridges and what they're doing in Sequim as they remodel the round-about. Single lane traffic as the build completes and the old levee could be removed. The road would not be closed entirely. I believe there are people on this site with more details around the exact how's and when's who will correct any misconceptions I may have shared about this. Once the old levee was compromised, the old portion of the road had to be closed entirely due to flooding risk. The next time I'm on vacation, I'll try to dig out the supporting documentation for that from the county archives and send it along to you.
This was all part of the originally approved plan, including the river "restoration" that is there now and that some people seem to want to hold up as a "but a road will kill it" kinda' banner to keep the road closed forever (when that was not the original plan shared with the public). It's just not true that the road will do all that in.
Finally, I agree with you about loose dogs and toddlers. They're in danger of being hit by vehicles everywhere. There just seems to be an abundance of them on the levee road bed. Perhaps we can reach a detente on that subject or become crusaders on a "leash, curb and clean up after your dog and child" campaign.
(to continue since this was cut off somehow) they have communicated on nextdoor and at the Commissioner's meetings, they seem intelligent enough to realize that attempting a self-supporting "brick-and-mortar" retail sales operation on their farm with that kind of constrained access would lead to certain bankruptcy. I guess they could prove me wrong someday, and if they do, more power to them. It's between them and the county and any neighbor who has grounds to object. That's all I got on that one.
One thing that is puzzling me is this constant claim that "Towne Road was not supposed to be closed for even one day." If that was actually the case, it seems it would have been logistically a nightmare for the deconstruction and reconstruction of the levee. I would appreciate some clarity in that regard. If you can offer it objectively, that is some information that is at least interesting.
Yes, he has waffled. He acts like he works for his financial supporters rather than the citizens of Dungeness. Outsiders should not determine the use of Towne Road.
Is the Eberle Farm protected against development? Looking at the North Olympic Land Trust maps of preserved farmland. it seems that all the surrounding farms in that area are preserved (Creamery, Nash's Delta Farm, the farm south of the Creamery, and even Nash's Hub north of Anderson along the river). I know the Eberle's are very committed to protecting the public wetlands for future generations, have they protected their farmland as well? I hope so, it is a lovely piece of property.
Nothing on file with the county. Nash's 2 parcels that are accessed by Eberle's private road (it's not a driveway) sold there development rights before he bought them.
This is an excellent question and has been an ongoing concern of mine. It IS a beautiful piece of property. I have not been able to find anything recorded with the county or the Land Trust to indicate that they have protected their wetlands (oops) ... farmland from future development.
This is why it's important to continue to encourage French and Johnson to stay committed to seeing this project through. Likewise with Emery. They're all elected officials. DLTA is encouraging people to reach out to Donisi too. Seems like harassment if a county employee.
Corruptioner Ozias obviously has no shame...no integrity. I cannot fathom being in his shoes and looking at myself in a mirror. Why he doesn't man up, step forward, apologize for his "mistakes" and step down is completely beyond my understanding. Instead he chooses to rule his subjects from his throne. He doesn't care how he is perceived and feels no obligation to his constituents. It is apparent he has some sick satisfaction in destroying trust in Clallam County government. History will not look kindly on Ozias!
The only thing these politicians understand are lawsuits and political damage. If the road is to be completed this year, we have 9 months to find the best class-action lawyers who will recoup their costs from Ozias' budget, as well as damage the heck out of his political career.
Oops, I should have clarified. It was me who redacted the recipient and time. This email was from Ozias to a Watchdogger who had contacted the commissioner for clarification. The Watchdogger generously sent me the email exchange but wasn't comfortable being attached to the document.
My previous comment pretty much summed up where Ozias was headed as referenced by his letter dated March 5. Ozias has been called out so much we’ve now gone beyond the point of no return. Whatever he says from this point forward must be taken with one little teeny tiny grain of levee dust.
You saw this coming from a mile away.
“A really nice thing about this project is the public will still have use of the existing road while the new road is being built,” Benjamin said.
That was a quote from Rebecca Benjamin, executive director of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition (back in 2015), regarding the 3 Crabs Restoration Project. https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/county-eyes-3-crabs-restoration-project/
The 3 Crabs Restoration project included: rerouting an existing road thru a wetland, removal of contaminated materials, and constructing a wider bridge over Meadowbrook creek. https://northolympiclandtrust.org/3-crabs-restoration-project-set-for-november-completion/
The project, located in the lower Dungeness area, was to improve salmon habitat while also maintaining a public county road. The Commissioners and county officials at the time, debated how to vacate the old road, ensure the road and bridge were funded, and how to mitigate traffic concerns. https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/milestone-met-for-3-crabs-restoration-project/
It would seem the Commissioners should look to the 3 Crabs Restoration project as an example of how to restore salmon habitat while balancing the need for a public road in the lower Dungeness area.
Morgan, you're 2 for 2. Got lots of public feedback about your sidewalk analogy l
Three Crabs is far more critical for community access than Towne ever was. Towne will certainly be missed as a convenience to some in the community, but it will still be freely available for unobstructed emergency use when the unnecessary gates are removed, something the Eberle's would no doubt welcome as the locked gates are for them a serious impediment to the same free use of county roads that you all enjoy. They did not ask for this. It was forced upon them by events outside of their control, and yet they welcomed it in the interests of flood plain restoration in spite of the tremendous disruption to their lives for the last few years--which this special interest group has only succeeded in magnifying relentlessly. And you all have exactly the same access to this wonderful evolving wetland as they do, except you do not have to constantly unlock and lock gates to access the road system.
We don't have the same access. You pretty much just said that. They have access to the "road system". We can't drive our vehicles on the road bed anytime we want. If they don't like the gates, support re-opening the road with an adjacent trail instead of trying to sell this as a "pedestrian only nature trail" which it is not as you so clearly point out. It's part of the "ROAD SYSTEM". Thank you for helping to confirm that.
The Eberle's don't drive on the levee because it is their preference. It is because they have no other option short of aircraft or magic. These arguments are absurd. Thank you for meeting my expectations.
Charles did you come here to get your preconceived expectations met or to read some facts and data? I readily admit that I share opinons and you don't have to agree with them.
BUT this website is full of facts and data, including information that has come from the Eberles. If you are not open to the facts and data and want to engage in a debate, I think we can do that too. Welcome. If you're not open to learning facts and data OR you don't want to engage in healthy debate, that's ok too. It was nice chatting. See you around.
To be clear: I don't begrudge the Eberles having to get to and from their property. It should not have come to this and it SHOULD be a temporary situation. It can be resolved via Option 2. Option 2 is an extremely reasonable request to resolve this for everyone and not just a few. If you're looking to blame someone, talk to Mr. Ozias. Perhaps the Eberles are being used.
Fact: Towne Road was not supposed to be closed for even one day.
If it hadn't closed, we'd all have the option to drive on it whenever we wanted AND this conversation would not be needed. As it stands, the Eberle's situation should and hopefully will be a temporary situation. A temporary inconvenience. Once they open the road to everyone, no one has to open any gates unless it's on their own property.
Fact: The Eberles have CHOSEN to be the face of the DLTA and have CHOSEN to publicly support the PERMANENT closure of Towne Road, except for their use.
Opinion: I would have more sympathy for the Eberles' temporary inconvenience IF they were not hypocritical about their environmental bona fides. They drive heavy machinery and automobiles over the wetlands on their property and mow the wetlands for "hay". Is it their right to do that? Absolutely. Is it a good thing for the environment? Absolutely not.
You would see this with your own eyes if you walk the levee during the dry season. Open your eyes and you'll see it all from the levee. Are they environmentally friendly when it suits their needs? Because that's the perception that they leave me with. Either that or somewhat ignorant or naive about what being environmentally friendly really is?
Question: Even today, at this moment, how are the walkers on the levee protected if the Eberles have a farm tour? A party? If an emergency vehicle needs to come through? If Nash needs to bring some large farm equipment through? Who's going to chase the walkers off the trail so the traffic can safely move through? What if there are disabled people, loose toddlers, loose dogs, hearing impaired and so on? A road and adjacent trail are safer for the walkers and the drivers.
Question: What happens in the future if the Eberles want to start a retail business from their property? Do you think the county should limit their right to start/run a business from there so as to keep the traffic and the tire pollution down (which would result in a lawsuit of some sort, I'm sure) or do you think the road that we funded should also be used to support the traffic to their business? There is no other situation in the county (that I'm aware of) where we, the taxpayers, fund a road and its maintenance for a business. This is a real situation that could happen. Think about it.
The road bed is funded by taxpayer money, not the Eberles alone (I had to add "alone" because I will just assume that they pay taxes in the county). The road bed has been designed and built to protect the environment. We should all be allowed to drive on it.
For the record, I walk on the levee and I want the road re-opened with the adjacent trail. The river and nature will be fine. Probably a lot healthier than the wetlands that keep getting trampled by farm and other vehicles..
I'm hoping you'll stick around and delve into the facts and data here a bit more and not just look for my opinion.
Facts, facts, and more facts. That's a great summary AJ!
What I find here is in my view a misleading narrative, derived from 'facts and data' taken largely out of context, and spun with extreme confirmation bias, not the least of which is the disingenuous manipulation of the Eberle's comments. (Why do you feel the need to make a point of assuming they pay taxes in the county? That kind of superfluous offhand insinuation is typical of the tone here). I've learned enough of what I regard as the plain facts and data already, thank you, to have come to the conclusion that a paved road is not the best use of the levee for the community at large, nor are the political and social lynchings being advocated here relevant to its best use. They do serve other agendas that seem to have become important for many here to air. But I am grateful that our always imperfect political system has somehow brought about the potential for the graveled levee to remain as it currently is being used, just without gates and locks so that it will allow unimpeded emergency access--and not be another excuse for insurance rates to be raised any more than they already are.
To address some concerns you raise:
-Haying a couple times a year is minimally disturbing. Certainly as opposed to tillage crops.
-People of all abilities somehow manage to avoid emergency vehicles (and the others mentioned) on other kinds of surfaces and loose toddlers and dogs would be just as vulnerable with a road/trail. -The gravel surface and its maintenance are not funded exclusively for the Eberle's. It is there for the community and everyone beyond it. The Eberle's are part of the community and, unfortunately for them, will have to put up with what will continue being an inconvenience for them that virtually no one else in the county (or likely in the entire state and beyond) has to contend with, though they willingly accept it-- and it is certainly not an advantage. -As for your last-- I thought about it...so, all businesses I guess (this is ridiculous) are supported by roads, in my expert opinion as a user of both roads and businesses. And... and... what if YOU wanted to start a retail business on YOUR property? Where the Eberle's are concerned, judging from what they have communicated on nextdoor and at the Commissioner's meetings, they seem intelligent enough to realize that attempting a self-supporting "brick-and-mortar" retail sales operation on their farm with that kind of constrained access would lead to certain bankruptcy. I guess they could prove me wrong someday, and if they do, more power to them. It's between them and the county and any neighbor who has grounds to object. That's all I got on that one.
One thing that is puzzling me is this constant claim that "Towne Road was not supposed to be closed for even one day." If that was actually the case, it seems it would have been logistically a nightmare for the deconstruction and reconstruction of the levee. I would appreciate some clarity in that regard. If you can offer it objectively, that is some information that is at least interesting.
Glad to see you're still engaged and thank you for your opinions.
I don't see many facts and data on the DLTA website but it does support your belief of what should happen to Towne Road. There's a lot of feeling out there on that site. There are a lot of emotional pleas wrapped in an environmentally friendly, biodegradable but not entirely accurate wrapper. The implication that people are only going to be inconvenienced if the road remains closed is an easy-to-swallow-pill.
I realise you live on the south side of Towne Road and want to keep it closed. Who could blame you, mate? Keep the traffic down over there and let it flow to Ward and Lotzgezell and Sequim-Dungeness because it's better for you and your neighbors. Understandable. NIMBY all the way, eh? It might even increase your property values in case you want to move. BUT increased road budget needs to be appropriated to maintain all those roads due to the extra traffic. and the speed limit on Sequim Dungeness changed to avoid additional serious mishaps with all the extra traffic. If it wasn't "that much traffic" then why do so many people who live south of the current blockage want to keep Towne Road closed? Oh wait. It's all about nature. Everyone that lives south of Towne Road is a bona fide environmentalist and y'all drive electric vehicles and all that. I get it..
Let me stress again for you, in case I was not abundantly clear. My opinion of the Eberles is just that. I clearly stated it as that in response to your defense of the Eberles. I don't know them. I only know OF them through their public statements, their social media statements, their documented unfounded accusations of people who do not agree with their position, and from what I've witnessed on the levee. I shared my opinion here, based on that. I stated it was an opinion based on my observations, much like you're sharing your opinion of this site based on your observations. Do I know if they pay taxes here in the county? No. Do you know if I pay taxes here in the county? No. Insinuate away.
I have talked with environmental scientists (real ones with PhDs and everything) in the past. The best thing you can do with wetlands is let them be wetlands. Let the ecosystem do what it needs to do and don't invade the area of the wetlands or the "fringe". The riverside of the levee is chock full of wetlands and yet there is irony in your defense of haying them "a few times a year." Maybe we should open up those wetlands for haying too? That could help pay for the parking lot on the south side of the currently closed road bed. Yes - till-farming can be invasive, but it's frowned upon doing it over wetlands in this part of the state anymore.
Places where people share other surfaces with vehicles usually have a separate sidewalk, a curb, a separated path from vehicles, so they really don't walk down the middle of the roadbed and "share it" with vehicular traffic unless they're looking for something, confused, mentally ill, etc. If an emergency vehicle has to come through, it's on the road and the people are normally on the pedestrian sidewalk or pedestrian trail. This is, in a nutshell, pedantic. Practically the definition of it.
I don't follow your business/road debate defense at all. Public roads are open to the public. We fund roads via tax dollars for everyone to use. Businesses locate off public roads and, in some cases, they have to pay for road improvements (think big box stores like Costco and Walmart) as part of building their business in a specific location and everyone gets to use those road improvements. Kinda' the opposite of what we have here. You follow? You drive on publicly funded roads to get to a business. I can drive on those same roads even if I don't want to go to that business. It's not just the Eberles. What happens if they sell in the future and the new owners want to open a retail shop? For your peace of mind, I can't open a retail shop on my property. My CC&Rs forbid it. I'd have to rent a space somewhere. Hope that answers your question.
My understanding about Towne Road never needing to be closed....the breach of the original levee by the tribe caused old Towne Road to be closed prematurely due to flood danger. Otherwise, it has been my understanding based on what I have read that the original plan was a transitional plan from old Towne Road to new Towne Road, similar to what they are doing on 101 with the fish bridges and what they're doing in Sequim as they remodel the round-about. Single lane traffic as the build completes and the old levee could be removed. The road would not be closed entirely. I believe there are people on this site with more details around the exact how's and when's who will correct any misconceptions I may have shared about this. Once the old levee was compromised, the old portion of the road had to be closed entirely due to flooding risk. The next time I'm on vacation, I'll try to dig out the supporting documentation for that from the county archives and send it along to you.
This was all part of the originally approved plan, including the river "restoration" that is there now and that some people seem to want to hold up as a "but a road will kill it" kinda' banner to keep the road closed forever (when that was not the original plan shared with the public). It's just not true that the road will do all that in.
Finally, I agree with you about loose dogs and toddlers. They're in danger of being hit by vehicles everywhere. There just seems to be an abundance of them on the levee road bed. Perhaps we can reach a detente on that subject or become crusaders on a "leash, curb and clean up after your dog and child" campaign.
(to continue since this was cut off somehow) they have communicated on nextdoor and at the Commissioner's meetings, they seem intelligent enough to realize that attempting a self-supporting "brick-and-mortar" retail sales operation on their farm with that kind of constrained access would lead to certain bankruptcy. I guess they could prove me wrong someday, and if they do, more power to them. It's between them and the county and any neighbor who has grounds to object. That's all I got on that one.
One thing that is puzzling me is this constant claim that "Towne Road was not supposed to be closed for even one day." If that was actually the case, it seems it would have been logistically a nightmare for the deconstruction and reconstruction of the levee. I would appreciate some clarity in that regard. If you can offer it objectively, that is some information that is at least interesting.
Two can play the Comp Plan Game
31.03.140
Transportation policies.
[Policy No. 20] The existing transportation system should be maintained before expenditure of limited public funds on expanded facilities.
31.02.420
Transportation – Goals and policies.
[Policy No. 4] Preserve existing road and highway system.
I already put money on you finding this, Leo. Lemme guess -- you didn't even look this up, you have it committed to memory.
I knew Ozias was cherry picking, there had to be more to the story.
Yes, he has waffled. He acts like he works for his financial supporters rather than the citizens of Dungeness. Outsiders should not determine the use of Towne Road.
Is the Eberle Farm protected against development? Looking at the North Olympic Land Trust maps of preserved farmland. it seems that all the surrounding farms in that area are preserved (Creamery, Nash's Delta Farm, the farm south of the Creamery, and even Nash's Hub north of Anderson along the river). I know the Eberle's are very committed to protecting the public wetlands for future generations, have they protected their farmland as well? I hope so, it is a lovely piece of property.
Someone on here knows, I'm sure of it.
Nothing on file with the county. Nash's 2 parcels that are accessed by Eberle's private road (it's not a driveway) sold there development rights before he bought them.
This is an excellent question and has been an ongoing concern of mine. It IS a beautiful piece of property. I have not been able to find anything recorded with the county or the Land Trust to indicate that they have protected their wetlands (oops) ... farmland from future development.
This is why it's important to continue to encourage French and Johnson to stay committed to seeing this project through. Likewise with Emery. They're all elected officials. DLTA is encouraging people to reach out to Donisi too. Seems like harassment if a county employee.
Good point. The electeds signed up for this the appointeds did not.
Corruptioner Ozias obviously has no shame...no integrity. I cannot fathom being in his shoes and looking at myself in a mirror. Why he doesn't man up, step forward, apologize for his "mistakes" and step down is completely beyond my understanding. Instead he chooses to rule his subjects from his throne. He doesn't care how he is perceived and feels no obligation to his constituents. It is apparent he has some sick satisfaction in destroying trust in Clallam County government. History will not look kindly on Ozias!
A lot of this could be diffused with a sincere apology.
The only thing these politicians understand are lawsuits and political damage. If the road is to be completed this year, we have 9 months to find the best class-action lawyers who will recoup their costs from Ozias' budget, as well as damage the heck out of his political career.
I think Corruptioner Ozias has demonstrated he is not honest, thus not to be trusted, more times than I can count!
Was that Arnold in "The Corruptioner"? Oh no, I'm thinking of "The Corruptionator."
Oops, I should have clarified. It was me who redacted the recipient and time. This email was from Ozias to a Watchdogger who had contacted the commissioner for clarification. The Watchdogger generously sent me the email exchange but wasn't comfortable being attached to the document.
"redacted by CCWD" would be better next time.
Deleted my comment.