Camano developer fighting rejection

Published 9:00 pm Friday, August 11, 2006

CAMANO ISLAND – David Platter may be down, but he’s not out.

Despite two recent court rulings against his development company, the Camano Island resident says he will continue with his controversial plan to build two hotels, a cultural center, office space and restaurants on five acres near the intersection of Highway 532 and Good Road.

If Island County continues to deny TR Camano permission to build hotels, the corporation will appeal, he said. Regardless, TR Camano will build the remainder of its proposed development, said Platter, president and co-owner of TR Camano.

Last week, both the Washington Court of Appeals and the Skagit County Superior Court ruled against TR Camano and its attempt to build hotels on the island.

In the Skagit County case, TR Camano was appealing a decision by the Island County Planning Department that denied its application for two hotels and a cultural center. Country inns with up to 40 rooms are allowed in Camano Island’s rural zone, but hotels aren’t allowed anywhere, according to planner Justin Craven. Cultural centers with “associated overnight lodging” are allowed in areas zoned “rural village.”

By promising to build a cultural center on his “rural village” land, Platter had hoped the county would also let him build hotels.

But it didn’t and he appealed.

Platter says he’ll now resume negotiations with the Island County Planning Department. He owns 8.5 acres kitty-corner to his proposed development that he also wants to build on.

Meanwhile, he plans to submit a petition, asking Skagit County Superior Court to reconsider its decision. In a draft of the petition, provided by Platter, the developer uses biting language in accusing the court of giving Island County too much power.

“Unchecked by Island County code and state law, the county planning staff can now impose with impunity conditions on any site plan application without any reference to Island County code or state law and have virtuously (sic) no fear of their decision being challenged by anyone,” the draft reads. “… Where do you draw the line. The opportunity for discrimination and prejudice is now extraordinary.”

In the draft, Platter quotes George Washington’s farewell address to the Union to show the “need to respect the basic fundamental principles our country was founded on.”

The Island County planning director was out of the office and not available for comment Friday.

In a press release, Island County Prosecuting Attorney Gregory Banks called the court decision a “significant victory.”

Deputy prosecutor Josh Choate, who argued the cases, said, “There had been a similar case that originated in Island County a decade or so ago. So we had a good wealth of knowledge here in the office about this type of situation. That definitely helped. More than anything else, it was just a matter of the law being on our side this time.”

Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.