[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6204988,"mediaKeyId","3777456-8095864e0d4980553054a0351fece57e","parentId",3777456,"title","Shoreline property owners press Island County for clearer permitting and more public input on comprehensive plan","audioSeconds",664,"startMs",609000,"endMs",1273000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777456-8095864e0d4980553054a0351fece57e&start=609&end=1273","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777456-8095864e0d4980553054a0351fece57e/thumbnail_609000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6204988/Island-County/Washington/Shoreline-property-owners-press-Island-County-for-clearer-permitting-and-more-public-input-on-comprehensive-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204988-3d7f3c5b5e99b6b67cee6282ec2b4213/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088740&Signature=UZcYpPDkc~uQQZiCqscOi2FdZXuMgMI7jEGiCpa6lIzQzW4vAeXZUZ0AEDAJUjaM7fSqQedyyJytXrlroIVOYd0XOyc4BDbdhmO3qop~WGZHTSR7MkKzjRJFselbb9X~pGDCzKyl0~yAYxo6ajjTBOLZvtLsP9fYHOws1I6Hr~Tz3f3hMAGYZqxI07hCtmJB4CYnfUU7BVd0q75XL4ttnUy06UeyB2Rp38HXouSCNZsGDC5a4JFualvot7C7uPpcrxPzwv39rWYCJ0E2vzyJ7jppTAvj1nYLOtPYSlkB5-5m2RJs6acvWK~O9eEdFcUmkDP4jmtmyP8nAtBiZRMXbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Island County, WA","date","2025-06-11T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple residents and community groups urged Island County commissioners on June 10 to facilitate shoreline-protection permits, clarify shoreline policy changes and expand public engagement for the county’s comprehensive plan update.

Speakers from Freeland described urgent erosion and flooding threats to private roads, wells and driveways and asked the commissioners to move permit reviews along so property owners can construct bulkheads. Valerie Stephan said geotechnical consultants were postponing new reports until a pending code update, and she described blocked access during high tides and limited emergency response options. Kim Stefan said delay could leave homeowners at risk this winter if a bulkhead permit is not issued soon.

Brad Thompson, speaking for the South Whidbey Shoreline Group, told commissioners the formal comment record to the county’s shoreline and planning documents included input from 31 individuals or entities, with more than 160 items spanning some 200 pages. Thompson said the “overwhelming gist” of comments was that shoreline property owners want clearer avenues to protect their homes and requested code-definition changes, targeted code edits, and compliance with state law.

Marnie Jackson of Langley, representing an environmental group, urged a different approach. “Armoring often does not protect homes,” she said, and called for “a science-based approach” that includes habitat restoration and strategic relocation where appropriate. Jackson criticized the board’s public-participation process for the comprehensive-plan update, saying the community lacks an iterative feedback loop and that many draft elements have not been released beyond the Clinton subarea. She asked the county to publish a staggered schedule for draft-element release, hold workshops and fishbowl discussions with subject experts, and provide more accessible opportunities for dialogue beyond written comment.

Commissioners said they will review the public comments and noted the county has a tight state-driven timeline for certain deliverables; they also said planning staff have been praised by the state for broad outreach while acknowledging some residents still want more forums and clearer feedback. Staff and commissioners discussed a scheduled work session the next day to review shoreline planning (the record shows about an hour set aside for the topic).

Commenters referenced a letter from the Washington State Department of Ecology that, according to participants, allows the county flexibility to make changes during the comment period; commissioners said they would review that letter and the public record as part of the upcoming deliberations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Island County BOCC Regular Session 06/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment on June 10 residents urged the Board of Island County Commissioners to speed shoreline protection permits and expand the comprehensive-plan public engagement. Environmental groups warned that hard armoring may not protect homes and urged science-based solutions and dialog.","taxTitle","Island County, Washington","taxId",54104,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204993,"Island County approves Race Lagoon and Sandburg water franchises; commissioners press for clearer maintenance standards",697,1664000,2361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777456-8095864e0d4980553054a0351fece57e&start=1664&end=2361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777456-8095864e0d4980553054a0351fece57e/thumbnail_1664000.jpg","/articles/6204993/Island-County/Washington/Island-County-approves-Race-Lagoon-and-Sandburg-water-franchises-commissioners-press-for-clearer-maintenance-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204993-de6c9f27f4c949f7f69a2f5ec1938a28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088739&Signature=A6dSJz5Rum5SXXjL2oL8P3s6w4nRkW9k0qVeL17KuOl7BpIBGJUfbDTxwIBhNsndNnP1BNK4wBn7pCr1MPPgrPzkKR-OveZRR~jK3lrDx-jNc8VlJ0pzkvqqiAnsJIiPrCOsYFDHao9N-0JKAbj0vQJMyOE4ARQevlD5JGGKu15qdG7Ym1u74tdq3OH5tbSUoC6XQWrcGSUIMRKoooxXRuaRJbll3KnU8FEkUrh5vhtQpLB4x5jS9LgBQr~RPVHpGUCbXrQuxYJwJxtZHBkxHzqLqVvibY28HBZHzCDBEKTW4i9WhoxbWdFfHJaG1JGZK4LXfEA8ACDRjewfoBIj8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Island County Board of Commissioners on June 10 approved franchise agreements for two small water systems: Race Lagoon Water Association and Sandburg Water Association. Both approvals grant 10‑year franchises with a 10‑year extension option.

Assistant county engineer Matthew Lander presented both items. He said Race Lagoon’s system currently serves 60 connections and has capacity for up to 65; the franchise is listed as PW2024‑0166. Sandburg’s franchise (PW2024‑0168) covers a system with 24 existing connections and capacity for up to 36 parcels; Lander said parts of Sandburg’s infrastructure date to an application that started in 1982 but was not finalized.

Commissioners raised operational and resiliency concerns during deliberations. One commissioner asked whether the county has any mechanism to verify routine maintenance and leak detection on small, privately operated water systems; Lander said the franchise template currently includes general expectations for maintenance and operations but does not require itemized, measurable reporting such as pressure-testing or leakage-rate documentation. Lander told the board such specific reporting could be added to future franchise templates or addressed at the time of optional franchise extension reviews.

The board also discussed a recurring policy goal: encouraging small “class B” water systems to consolidate into larger systems. A commissioner noted that class B systems (those with fewer connections) are not always subject to the same state reporting and infrastructure standards that apply to larger systems and said consolidation can improve reliability and regulatory compliance.

Both motions to approve the two franchise items were made and seconded and were adopted by the commissioners present. Meeting minutes show the board approved PW2024‑0166 for Race Lagoon and PW2024‑0168 for Sandburg; the transcript records no public protest or objections during the public-comment periods for either franchise.

Commissioners and staff said they will consider updating the county’s franchise application template and the utilities element of the comprehensive plan to include clearer, measurable expectations for maintenance, reporting and system resilience as part of longer-term planning work.","The board approved two 10-year water franchise agreements on June 10 — Race Lagoon Water Association (60 connections, capacity 65) and Sandburg Water Association (24 connections, capacity 36). Commissioners discussed adding measurable maintenance requirements and encouraging consolidation of small systems to improve resiliency.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204996,"Island County adopts resolution apologizing for historic racist deed restrictions",307,1313000,1620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3777456-8095864e0d4980553054a0351fece57e&start=1313&end=1620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3777456-8095864e0d4980553054a0351fece57e/thumbnail_1313000.jpg","/articles/6204996/Island-County/Washington/Island-County-adopts-resolution-apologizing-for-historic-racist-deed-restrictions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204996-4d41e655339dc39c85470001bf9d76be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088739&Signature=T5MflLJ3FAibaJ1ebEmZ3Yjk160wwGKik2uKz8M2bT2IZPkHnvxLNZNIAnjX~0LqLS9-8ztIFuKleCORBJzbgkd4WVsnPj6o-nypeAOeXV4-8ioONzEx6gc4BqQy3kJ3rvfPTpjuCGS1nJ3aG2vHJNZNSQqKq8ynaDTXsTElqwl5BWXl5sjiNSSWJJxk38fIbgo7nVr4bL29BZNj0hszIRXGKIt2el33n8j8OxP9bAtcKg5J6ODquZGp846IqKdxHCWqWY4rn-CzL3ogZHuJfeXuzsEpKDmq3gH05IcMp4V~GekYhFgCu-HxOxqSwIrI9B6Fo-uFFDW9UC9noIOiFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Island County Board of Commissioners on June 10 adopted Resolution C-38-25, formally acknowledging and apologizing for the county’s past role in approving deeds and plats that contained racially restrictive covenants and directing administrative help for residents seeking remedies.

The resolution, read into the record during the regular session, says the county “expresses our sincere sorrow and remorse” for deeds and plats dating from about 1930 to 1950 that declared only white individuals could purchase or occupy certain properties. It cites a state-backed review that identified more than 900 affected properties in 22 subdivisions in Island County and notes that such covenants were rendered illegal by the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968.

The resolution points to state action since 2021 and 2023 that aim to identify and remedy discriminatory covenants. It references House Bill 1335 (2021) as the statute that charged a restrictive-covenants project to locate properties statewide, the 2023 Covenants Homeownership Account Act that creates mortgage-assistance options, and RCW 49.60.027, which enables property owners, occupants and homeowners associations to petition to have unlawful discriminatory covenants removed from title records. The board said it will waive any Island County planning department fees normally charged for filings to remove discriminatory language from deeds.

Commissioners moved and seconded adoption of the resolution; the chair called for a vote and the measure passed with assent from those present. The resolution’s text — entered into the record during the meeting — includes an apology to families who were excluded from shorefront ownership and acknowledges the role those exclusions played in denying generations the opportunity to build property wealth.

The board did not attach additional program funding or a new local ordinance to the resolution. Instead, it directs staff to inform affected community members about statutory removal options and to waive county planning fees for title-modification filings.

Residents seeking more information were advised to contact the Island County planning department for assistance with the paperwork and fee waivers described in the resolution.","At its June 10 meeting the Island County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution C-38-25, formally apologizing for county-sanctioned deed restrictions that barred nonwhite people from buying properties and pledging administrative support for residents seeking removal or relief.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Shoreline property owners press Island County for clearer permitting and more public input on comprehensive plan

Island County approves Race Lagoon and Sandburg water franchises; commissioners press for clearer maintenance standards

Island County adopts resolution apologizing for historic racist deed restrictions