Illahee Plan Opposition: Personal Vendetta or Professional Concern?
October 21st, 2008 by brynn grimleyWarning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
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While I was away in sunny Maui last week, quite a bit of action happened on the Illahee Community Plan.
The last I’d written about the plan was the planning commission’s recommendation of the document to the board of county commissioners (that happened on Sept. 23) following the planner’s Sept. 9 public hearing. At that public hearing no one spoke out against the plan.
But last week the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners and the Kitsap County Association of Realtors presented public testimony at the county commissioners’ and planning commissioners’ meetings against the plan. The Realtors also sent a letter, dated Oct. 3, 2008, to county commissioners and KAPO followed up with its own letter, dated Oct. 13, 2008.
I’m not going to get into the contents of the letters, because that can be read in my story, written for the Oct. 22 paper.
I listened to the audio of the planning commission hearing online, to see what I missed. Vivian Henderson, executive director of KAPO, and Richard A. Brown, government affairs chairperson for the board of Realtors, voiced their concern.
I called Henderson Tuesday, to ask why KAPO hadn’t made its opposition known at the planning commission hearing on the plan. I also asked why Illahee Plan? Had KAPO opposed other community plans?
She told me KAPO wrote its letter to support the Realtor letter, and KAPO hadn’t formed its position on the plan in time for the Sept. 9 planning commission hearing.
This is the first community plan KAPO has opposed, Henderson said, stating in the past the board did not analyze plans like the Kingston Community Plan (which is the same concept as the Illahee plan), because “we’re just volunteers, we can only keep up with so much.”
Because it was brought to the board’s attention that county commissioners are allowing what it considers a “proliferation of subarea plans throughout the county,” Henderson believes the organization will now “start keeping our eyes on” community plans as they arise.
Richard A. Brown, speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of the board of Realtors, said in his capacity as a member of the Buildable Lands Committee, he was told that the Illahee Community Plan would never be approved. He couldn’t remember where he’d heard that, but said he hadn’t paid much attention to the status of the plan until he learned county commissioners would be voting on it this year.
In his estimation, Brown said he believes that this plan is politically motivated and has been pushed through by CK Commissioner Josh Brown.
“This plan is being done to lower the density in the Illahee area as a pay back to the neighbors for supporting Josh Brown in the election,” he said.
Commissioner Brown responded by saying: “I think that’s more telling about how Dick looks at supporting politicians than my outlook on things… I find it completely insulting that Dick Brown would make such an egregious statement about me personally. He has attacked my ethics.”
Commissioner Brown went on to remind me that he inherited the plan from his predecessor CK Commissioner Patty Lent, who had worked with the Illahee community on its plan, which they initiated in early 2006. He added if Illahee residents had it their way, they’d have removed themselves from the Urban Growth Area.
“The Illahee community has wanted to be pulled out of the UGA and I don’t agree with that and I’ve been upfront with the community about that,” he said. “I’ve worked with them to balance growth with development and quality of life.”
Getting back to the letters… The Realtors cited concerns about what the organization sees as “limited opportunity for public participation.” Both entities believe the general public should be involved in the writing process of the plan, instead of having to wait until the board of county commissioners hear the matter for approval.
Richard A. Brown questioned the notification process of the meetings, stating “we’re currently researching to find out if the meetings were open to the public and if people were properly notified of the plan.”
Jim Aho, Illahee resident and CAG member, said all the meetings were open to the public — Illahee resident or not — and the Illahee Community Club has posted updates on the plan, as well as the plan itself, on its Web site.
Because the community had worked on a community plan for two years before the county got involved (hoping the plan would be adopted at the end of 2007) many people involved in the original writing of the plan didn’t get involved the second time around because they were burnt out, Aho said. There were also some who were leery of the county’s involvement, fearing their hard work would be thrown by the wayside for county regulations.
According to Aho, when the community prepared for its initial writing of the plan, community members posted signs along heavily traveled Illahee roads, hand delivered over 1,000 newsletters to Illahee residents about the plan, sent emails and did everything possible to get community involvement.
The same happened when the county got involved. The county kept the plan posted to its Web site, including meeting dates, updates on the status and current drafts, Aho said. Planners working with the community on the plan also sent out three post cards at three separate times to all residents living within Illahee’s boundaries, telling them of the CAG and how to get involved, according to Katrina Knutson, DCD planner.
I also covered meetings and wrote articles (and blog posts) to update the public on the process of the plan on the following dates:
The next step is for the county commissioners to hear the plan in a work study session. That’s scheduled for early November, with a Nov. 24 date for public testimony. The board will make its decision on the plan (potentially) at its early December meeting.
Here is a PDF file of the two letters submitted to the county by KAPO and the Realtors.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
I have been interest in the Illahee plan as an outsider until November 2007. Prior to this date, I had received an announcement notice from Kitsap County about the MT Illahee project to build a few new homes due to my home being within 400 feet from the project. At that time, I laugh at the large storm water pipe planned for so few homes and forgot about it. It was in November that I found out from the Illahee committee (CAG) newsletter that this project had a future project of many new homes that Illahee community citizens didn’t know about. I think the realtors would like to keep people in the dark on anything to do about land & property as a way to keep them within their service. Thanks to CAG, The Sun, Kitsap County; and — yes. even the realtors, for this has become a bright spotlight of information.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
A major event occurred on Oct 14 at the Kitsap County Planning Commission where Richard A. Brown also expressed his concerns about Illahee. (Refer to county online audio of the meeting http://www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/pc/minutes/default.htm Note there are 2 parts to this subject. The representative from the Kitsap realtors association with full and total support of the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners through there representative basically said and outlined in their documents that:
The association and KAPO do not support sub area plans and such things are wasteful and unnecessary.
The association had an understanding with the commissioners that the Illahee plan would be going nowhere.
The association and KAPO clearly believe that annexation of Illahee is underway thought county and Bremerton planning.
Further it was pointed out that they were told by commissioners when “they” worked on the increase densities that it wasn’t to happen west of the highway and that major density increase was to be dumped on the Illahee part of central Kitsap.
Illahee citizens can now understand why it has taken 3 years to get there plan to this point and wonder what handshakes are in progress as campaign funding is once again underway.
Illahee citizens can now understand why they seemed to be dealing with such an unbalanced amount of high density.
Illahee citizens can now understand the paranoid people that said this was what the county was doing to them.
It now can be heard between the statements that all sub areas should expect an attack from these alliances, associations and back room politicians. All must prepare their defenses. It just might be time to grab the musket, shot and man the barricades for the king’s men are back to buy control. Or better yet make sure you are not dealing with a member of the realtors association.
They had 3 years to attend public meetings and didn’t bother and because back room promises didn’t work and the public process is working they are upset.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
James Brady wrote, “I think the realtors would like to keep people in the dark on anything to do about land & property as a way to keep them within their service.”
Considering realtors provide state-approved education classes in land use, and considering realtors have supported improved standards for written property disclosures, please substantiate your egregious claim or retract it.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I need to clarify a statement made by commenter “Tom”. He states: “Further it was pointed out that they were told by commissioners when “they” worked on the increase densities that it wasn’t to happen west of the highway and that major density increase was to be dumped on the Illahee part of central Kitsap.”
I believe Tom is referring to Richard Brown’s comments made during the planning commission hearing where he said he hadn’t followed the progress of the Illahee Community Plan because he was told it wasn’t going anywhere.
I asked Mr. Brown about that statement, asking him when he heard that and who said it. He said he couldn’t remember where he’d heard it, because he has been involved in so many different groups. I asked if a county commissioner told him that, and he said NO. He couldn’t remember the person who said it, but said he believed it was a member of Kitsap County staff.
– Brynn
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Oops, I copied and pasted the wrong section of Tom’s comment. This is the part of his statement I was referring to:
“The association had an understanding with the commissioners that the Illahee plan would be going nowhere.”
That, Richard Brown said, is not true. He was never told by a county commissioner the plan was going nowhere.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Builder requested that I substantiate my claim about realitors. He/She may not live in Illahee and know about this sad story (as I didn’t know until this week), so here is my claim. The KAPO letter mentions the Mullinex situation, where there is litigation between the Mullinex and the previous property owners, and both real estate agents. They purchased property without seeing it due to their service to our country in Hawaii. The property is known to be wet lands by Kitsap County on the south fork of the Illahee creek, where you cannot build. If they had a “written property disclosure” that Builder mentioned, I would assume they would not have purchased the land as no one wants the legal litigation mess they now have.
I am working to have the Illahee Community Plan approved and hope it becomes part of the vast information available on the Kitsap County web site. I hope that any future families looking to build a retirement home will use this information and avoid the problems the Mullinex family has.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
A clarification on James Brady’s 10/24/08 posting. Mr. Mullinex did see the property before purchasing it but was told by the agent showing him the property that the wet, winding area [stream/South Fork of Illahee Creek] was a drainage ditch. The agent was well aware of the conditions of this property having offered it for puchase to surrounding neighbors who told him the condition of the land, as well as other concerned folks who also called the agent informing him of the wetland/stream conditions. On Monday, October 20th, I sent a letter relating the history of this property to Vivian Henderson of KAPO with copies to our county commissioners. Ms Angel replied with concerns about disclosure and forwarded my letter to Mike Eliason of the Real Estate Realtors Association. I know there is litigation involved but do not know precisely who is involved.
November 1st, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Why would two land/house self-serving business organizations pounce on the Illahee plan now?
They suddenly have nothing better to do or do they want to squeeze more homes into a highly desirable area?
The Kitsap County Association of Realtors and Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners are by definition people who build, develop, sell and buy real estate for a living…without any apparent regard for our environment, our waterways….our already polluted waterways, that is.
Why should their late comments have any bearing on the Illahee project?
ESPECIALLY now that we know the U.S. is the second leading water polluted country in the WORLD. Only one country is worse than ours, China. India is third.
Never in a million years did I imagine one day to learn this country leads in pollution!
Stop this mad rush to annihilate our natural waterways, woods and forests by adding more houses to cause more pollution into our waterways…stop it now.
Kitsap County – take the lead in preserving what we have and judicious planning for the homes to be built.
If we don’t care about our environment, what is left for the next generation and the generation after that?
Sharon O’Hara
November 9th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
First, let’s answer Sharon (real name: Susan) O’Hara’s diatribes. My responses are in CAPS. Sharon wrote, “Why would two land/house self-serving business organizations pounce on the Illahee plan now? READ THE PAPER. THEY’VE MADE IT CLEAR WHY THEY OPPOSE SUBAREA PLANS WITHIN URBAN GROWTH AREAS. THEY DON’T OPPOSE SUBAREA PLANS. THEY OPPOSE A NEW SUBAREA PLAN WITHIN A UGA. BIG DIFFERENCE, SHARON/SUSAN.
They suddenly have nothing better to do or do they want to squeeze more homes into a highly desirable area? NO. THE AREA IS ALREADY AN URBAN GROWTH AREA – AGREED TO BY THE GOVERNMENT AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS. IF ALL URBAN GROWTH AREAS GO THE WAY OF ILLAHEE AND DECIDE TO STOP GROWTH, WHERE WILL OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN LIVE? IN YOUR HOUSE, SHARON/SUSAN?
The Kitsap County Association of Realtors and Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners are by definition people who build, develop, sell and buy real estate for a living…without any apparent regard for our environment, our waterways….our already polluted waterways, that is.
Why should their late comments have any bearing on the Illahee project? YOUR PRIOR COMMENTS ARE OUTLANDISH AND UNBECOMING AN ADULT. COMMENTS ARE NOT YET LATE AS THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE NOT YET HELD A PUBLIC HEARING. GET A CLUE.
November 9th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Now it’s time to rattle TOM, who wrote, “Or better yet make sure you are not dealing with a member of the realtors association.
They had 3 years to attend public meetings and didn’t bother and because back room promises didn’t work and the public process is working they are upset.”
I KNOW A NUMBER OF REALTORS AND THEY’RE GOOD PEOPLE. SO IF YOU FIND ONE BAD APPLE, TOM, WILL PLACE HIS/HER MISDEEDS ON THE ENTIRE LOT? LET’S ASSUME YOU ARE A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. IF I FIND A BAD GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE – AND THERE ARE PLENTY OUT THERE – SHALL WE CONSIDER YOU BAD AS WELL? GET REAL.
AS TO THE BACKROOM DEALS, YOU HAVE COMMITTED LIBEL. THERE WERE NO BACKROOM DEALS AND YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE. THE COUNTY HAS YET TO HOLD ONE PUBLIC HEARING. THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE YET TO HEAR THE PLAN, AT WHICH TIME THE PUBLIC AND INTEREST GROUPS SHOULD APPROPRIATELY BRING FORTH THEIR TESTIMONY. THE REALTORS AND KAPO ARE ARRIVING JUST IN TIME. YOUR WORKING ON THE PLAN FOR THREE YEARS DOES NOT GIVE YOU ANY MORE RIGHT OR CREDIBILITY. FRANKLY, LIKE THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK, I RESPECTFULLY WONDER IF YOUR GROUP IS THE ONE HIDING BACKROOM DEALS.
November 9th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
‘My’ comments are ‘outlandish’ Builder//annon?
We’re dealing with poisoned waterways…more density and pollution isn’t going to help, no matter what you say or that the ‘plan’ was approved before current up to date information became available.
What are you thinking? Why does it seem that you insist on poisoning our world – no matter the consequences?
If you are really a ‘builder’ you know homes can be built responsibly…in environmentally less sensitive places.
Sharon O’Hara