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The Whidbey Examiner • Thursday, July 11, 2013
Advisory group should form to explore town parking options In recent weeks there has been discussion amongst downtown businesses about utilizing parking spaces on Front Street for outdoor dining. The discussion was Megan Hansen prompted by a proSome perspective posal from Front Street Grill to utilize the two spaces in front of the restaurant. Mayor Nancy Conard went to the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association and Coupeville Chamber to review the idea with them. The proposal has sparked controversy and concern with some business members downtown. It has also resparked the debate about parking on Front Street. In an impromptu discussion Tuesday morning, Conard further discussed the issue with members attending the Coupeville Chamber monthly meeting. During the meeting Conard said she’d be more than happy to revisit parking regulations downtown with businesses. The conversation sparked several things with me. It was brought up that many of the parking spots in the downtown corridor are filled by business owners and their employees. If parking is such a concern, business owners need to take a proactive stance and find alternatives parking solutions. Conard pointed out the town does own a parking lot near the Coupeville Libarary as well as another lot near town hall. An ordinance could be put in place restricting business owners and employees from parking in that corridor. This could be a very plausible solution. I think Town of Coupeville needs to form a parking advisory committee with representatives from the Coupeville Chamber, Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association and town staff to review rules, regulations and possible solutions. If an ordinance is put in place mandating staff park outside the corridor, this may lessen parking constrictions and make people more open to the idea of utilizing some of the street parking for other purposes. — Megan Hansen is editor of The Whidbey Examiner.
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Fireworks law needs to be changed now for next year Editor, Hopefully everyone had a safe holiday. For those who have a hard time tolerating the noise and pollution of the firecrackers every July 4th, now is the time for use to get together and get the laws changed to limit the fireworks on Whidbey Island. The commissioners have the power to limit them to the one-day holiday and to limit the hours to 11 p.m. — like they are in Coupeville and other counties. Next year July 4th is on Friday, so it will be much louder, higher and hotter with the new fireworks available. They are more dangerous every year. If your pets, wildlife, you children, elderly and soldiers with PTSD had a hard time this year it will be worse next year. Why should a one-day holiday be stressful for so many days? You can do something right now to make a change. Email or call your Island County Commissioners and convince them to write an ordinance to change the rules to limit the days to just the Fourth of July and only until 11 p.m. Midnight is just too late. They can make it effective by next year if they try to. Since we have very limited law enforcement and volunteer firefighters, now is the time to do it. We can promote Whidbey as a safe, beautiful and tranquil place to visit for the holiday. This would be a perfect time for the commissioners to show they can look out for the interests of all the residents — not just a few — of Island County.
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