Record South Whidbey
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A bit of Texas on Whidbey See...A12
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 78 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Congress hopefuls don’t always toe party lines
South End pot license holder eager to open store County review still in progress for Bayview pot shop
By JANIS REID South Whidbey Record
better. One property owner is furious with the city’s plan. In a five-page letter written to the city, Charlie Pancerzewski outlined why he thought the project failed to meet the city’s own explanations for use. “This project is ill conceived,” he wrote in the conclusion. “The elevator is an eye sore and way out of place with the long-standing look and environmental feel of Langley. The words ‘eye sore’ are as appropriate to describe it as any.” But according to Arango, more “nays” than “yeas” isn’t necessarily a signal of universal rejection. Also, some of the concerns could be fixed simply. Arango noted that the design already underwent a slight change by making the bridge’s exterior transparent, like a mesh or fence enclosure, rather than a full-metal sheet with a few windows. The architect, Eric Richmond of Flat Rock Productions, also added an observation deck that wraps around the elevator shaft at the top. Those types of alterations may mitigate any loss of public view.
Candidates for Washington’s 2nd Congressional seat seem to stray from hard-set party platforms on a few issues. To start, incumbent Democrat Rick Larsen has been critical of President Barack Obama, a fellow Democrat, for his use of military action such as recent Syrian air attacks without congressional oversight. “If we’re really going to do this well and down the road be able to do it again, it’s important that the executive branch and the legislative branch get on the same page,” Larsen said in an interview last week. On the other hand, Republican challenger BJ Guillot said he believes the president is operating within the parameters of his position. “He has the right to do it, it gives him the ability,” Guillot said. “If he believes there’s an imminent threat he can use force.” Guillot said that while Congress doesn’t have the power to stop the presidentordered military action, they could vote to cut off the funding for the operation, a move he would support. Despite representing a primarily liberal state that recently approved the legalization of marijuana, Larsen said he is not in favor of its legalization but is just trying to “get out of the way” of the new legislation. Guillot said he doesn’t have any issues with marijuana as long as people are following the law and paying
SEE LANGLEY LIFT, A11
SEE ELECTION, A11
By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Whidbey Island Cannabis Company is a recreational marijuana store in name only. More than two months after being told she could not operate one of Washington’s first recreational marijuana stores by Island County, owner Maureen Cooke is still waiting on the permits. Soon, that may change. Cooke said she heard from Island County’s planning department that she could receive her permit within days. Back in July when the Washington State Liquor Control Board approved her retail license, Cooke’s concern was finding weed. (A joke among Whidbey Islanders was that she was one of the only people who couldn’t find weed to buy.) Even before she made national headlines as the state’s first listed license holder, Island County’s planning department sent her a stop-work order because she had not received a type 2 land-use permit or a building permit. That threw a wrench in her plans to open the Bayview store, near El Corral and Double R Rentals, amid the buzz of Washington enacting its voter-approved legalization of recreational use and retail. Now, Cooke is eager to hear from the county as to if and when she can open. “If he said ‘Today,’ I’d run SEE POT STORE, A11
Flat Rock Productions image
This design shows the Langley Lift bridge and elevator tower connecting the city to the harbor.
Langley Lift lands low score in public study
‘The elevator is an eyesore ...’ — Charlie Pancerzewski By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record
People are not thrilled at the prospect of a long bridge and a towering elevator shaft mucking up their view in Langley. City officials are considering a proposal for a bridge and elevator that would connect the marina at South Whidbey Harbor to the shopping and residential area from Cascade Avenue. A public meeting regarding the project is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Langley City Hall. Dubbed the Langley Lift, the project was a partnership between the city and recently deceased businessman Paul Schell, whose wife Pam Schell is following through on the development. The Schells presented the idea at a council meeting in mid-July, about a week before Paul Schell died from heart surgery complications. Since then, the city conducted a view assessment and has accepted public input. Director of Community Planning Jeff Arango said the roughly thirty comments are “mostly negative,” with criticism about its aesthetics, view impacts and recommendations about how to do it