Your choice: Acre on Eagle Harbor or $2 million cash? | Opinion | Aug. 20

Published 12:23 pm Friday, August 20, 2010

The city was supposed to turn tail when WSF exercised its power of eminent domain in 1995 to condemn an acre of land on the southwest corner of the Eagle Harbor maintenance yard that had been leased to a private boatyard operator. The city didn’t go away, but WSF has basically ignored any claims made by Bainbridge for the property, which was part of 2 1/2 acres the State Shoreline Board had given to the city as a condition for Harbor View Condos being built in 1974.

However, during the first meeting that new WSF chief David Moseley held on the island in the spring of 2008, he said he would look into the matter. There must have been a mass rolling of eye balls by audience members as Moseley quickly went on to the next issue. But it appears Moseley is a man of his word.

He actually offered a settlement during a recent meeting with city officials, presenting two options: Take the land, which is basically fill created when the Wyckoff Superfund site was capped, or $2 million that can be used only for water or shoreline purposes. And do it quickly – with a deadline of having paperwork in order by late October to close the deal by the end of this year.

Councilor Debbi Lester, who has long been an advocate for the city regaining possession of the property for the purposes of a building a haul-out facility and fuel dock on the land, quickly held a meeting with maritime-use islanders to gauge their interests. She said the consensus was to take the land.

Then again, as Councilor Barry Peters wondered, should the city take the money and use it to build a 20-30 boat marina at Waterfront Park that would encourage boaters/tourists to visit our island more often? He would like to see Bainbridge have a dock like the one found in Poulsbo.

Whatever the city eventually decides, obviously it needs to get its attorney involved in the settlement, beginning with an appraisal of the property. That’s critical since this remains a legal issue and it needs to be vetted by the city’s legal representative.

Then the city needs to get the community involved, and not just selected stakeholders as the city did when making decisions regarding Strawberry Plant Park. Mayor Bob Scales called for a “request for ideas” from the community to ensure public involvement that isn’t just a token gesture.

Scales suggested separating the two options, with each having its own public meetings for the purpose of coming up with a variety of options for the property or the $2 million. He also warned against going back to the state for more since the offer could quickly be rescinded.

How novel – let the people decide what to do with a prime part of its waterfront. Yes, this is a new City Council.