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To be or not to be, that is the question See...A10
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 56 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Permit headache douses Bayview pot biz
Francisco scrubs Langley First Street vision “I’m through with Langley,” developer says By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record The owner of the Village Pizzeria building and more property on Langley’s First Street said Thursday he will not pursue major development plans. In a phone interview with The Record from his vacation home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Richard Francisco said the six-story, mixed-use building plans are stalled. He chided the city’s leaders for wanting too much from him in studies and public meetings, and said that he was unwilling to scale back the project. “I’m through with Langley,” he said. After years of planning and concept, Francisco presented his preferred design in mid-May to a packed room at Langley City Hall. Much of the crowd was opposed to his plan for a six-story building, when viewed from Seawall Park, to above First Street, occupying space from Boy and Dog Park up toward Wharf Street, where the city owns a large stretch of bluff. In total, the project stretched 215 feet along First Street. Two options were presented: one with five stories and a continuous block of storefronts, and one with six stories and a public viewing area separating the upper three stories, complete with an elevator down to Seawall Park. “I’ve spent tons of money, SEE FRANCISCO, A14
By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record
there is strong local support to close OLF but it’s not the majority.” Independent challenger and Occupy organizer Mike Lapointe said Larsen has not been responsive enough to the those concerned about the Growlers. Lapointe, who grew up near Westfield-Barnes Airport in Massachusetts, said he has experienced similar jet noise. Coupevillebased group Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve sued the Navy last year, demanding an environmental study
The wait for legal weed on South Whidbey may be longer than first thought. Whidbey Island Cannabis Company lacks the proper permits to open one of the state’s first recreational marijuana stores, and the county planning director alerted shop owner Maureen Cooke five days before the new business received the state’s OK. David Wechner, Island County’s planning director, said his department issued a stop work order to Cooke on July 2. The Washington State Liquor Control Board issued the first 24 recreational marijuana licenses July 7, and Cooke’s was on top of the list. She had hoped to open the store earlier this week, but was unable to get any legally produced and processed marijuana in time. In the interim, she wrote to the Island County commissioners asking for them to reconsider their order. The Bayview store needs a type 2 land-use permit and a building permit for work done inside the roughly 875-square-foot shop on Kramer Road. Cooke was irate with the county and the cost of the permits. “They’re just going to extort $2,500 out of me,” she said. “If they’re going to prevent me from opening and want me to pay $2,500, I’m going to pay the goddamn thing. I’m pissed,” she later added.
SEE CANDIDATES, A13
SEE POT SHOP, A9
Justin Burnett / The Record
Boaters motor past a small pier located in Glendale, a small beach community on South Whidbey. Shoreline properties are being eyed for preservation, but it will mean the loss of the pier and boat launch.
Glendale buy to result in loss of pier, boat launch By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record Acquiring key shoreline properties in Glendale for public use will mean the removal of an existing concrete boat launch and an over-water pier. Whidbey Camano Land Trust officials confirmed this week that funding issues have left the organization with little choice but to demolish the over-water structures, particularly the boat launch. The end result will be 240 feet of shoreline secured for public use, but property
restricted to non-motorized use only. “It’s choosing between having nothing there or having public access with some boat launch ability [kayaks],” said Pat Powell, executive director of the land trust. “There were no clear choices with this project.” Public response to the news has been mixed. Some say it’s simply the price to pay for public access, one that should be happily paid. SEE GLENDALE, A13
Congressional candidates weigh in on OLF By JANIS REID South Whidbey Record Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen said Thursday that he continues his support for use of Outlying Field Coupeville by the EA-18G Growlers based at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. “I support keeping it open and I support the Growlers,” said Larsen, in a phone interview. “I’ve been a strong supporter of the Navy and it’s been a huge economic driver for North Whidbey.” Larsen is facing two challengers in the primary election which ends
Aug. 5. Island County residents can vote online now and paper ballots are expected to go out Wednesday. Larsen has been criticized for this position, even by some of his previous supporters, because they believe the Growlers pose series health risks. “I understand where people are coming from, which is why me and my staff has spent a lot of time getting the Navy to listen to people and their concerns and try to be responsive as an elected official,” Larsen said. “Opponents will conclude from this that I’m not listening. Just because I disagree doesn’t mean I’m not listening. From my outreach, I believe