Friends of Guemes Island is open to all persons for the purpose of supporting the preservation of the rural character of the island, its sense of community, a sustainable lifestyle, and the planning for change in open and approved processes. |
December 16, 2005 Board Members When asked recently, "Is it true that Don Munks has directed that an extended ferry schedule be put into effect January 1?" Steve Cox, Skagit County Guemes Island Ferry manager, replied, "We will put an extended schedule in place as soon we can finish bargaining the effects with the IBU [Inland Boatmen's Union]." Mr. Cox is referring to an intention to extend the current operating hours of the Guemes Island ferry on weeknights. Ferry operations have always ended at 6 pm Monday through Thursday and it appears that the Commissioners wish to extend them to 10 pm. Commissioner Ted Anderson has stated that this is to allow people to move to the island who find the current schedule too limited. We believe that this change may well have profound effects on the rural character of Guemes Island and impacts on its sole-source aquifer. A Subarea planning process is now underway that will consider the impacts of an extended ferry schedule and we have urged the Commissioners to await its completion before considering extending the hours of ferry operation. (We have not received a reply.) Impacts to Anacortes neighborhoods near the Guemes Ferry dock should also be considered. Policy 9A-8.7 of the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan states "The Regional Transportation Planning Organization should establish level of service standards for ferry service". As you all well know, transportation issues are an essential consideration when planning for growth. The operating hours of the Guemes Island ferry would seem to fall under the purview of the RTPO. We ask this Board to recommend to the County Commissioners that hours of ferry system operation should not be extended before input is requested and received from the RTPO pursuant to Comprehensive Plan policy 9A-8.7. We also request that the RTPO support our recommendation that extension of hours for the Guemes ferry not be considered before the impact analysis by the subarea planning committee is completed. For additional information, please visit our website. Sincerely, Gary Davis
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Friends of Guemes Island have urged the Commissioners not to expand the hours of ferry service. Expanded ferry service can best be addressed by the Guemes Island Subarea Planning process already underway. The Commissioners signed a Resolution committing to the preparation of a Subarea Plan for Guemes Island: “The community plan for Guemes Island shall address rural commercial uses and locations, sole-source aquifer issues, shoreline environs, ferry service, open space and natural resource lands, and provisions for maintaining rural character and lifestyles.” Expanding hours of ferry service to Guemes Island likely will increase the growth rate on the Island and result in significant adverse impacts to the sole source aquifer and rural character.
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