As an Everett resident, when I need a change of scene, it gives me a great deal of pleasure and mental renewal to repair to I-5 in my car and pursue a northerly course. Soon leaving the urban sprawl behind, the geo-curtain rises to reveal a pastoral landscape, complete with snow capped mountain peaks, green pastures, rolling hills and bald eagles swooping over their hunting grounds. The day is coming when this joy and pleasure only derived from the land’s current use will revert to glaring light standards illuminating asphalt parking lots. The scene will fall heir to a high volume of vehicle rear end collisions as motorists suddenly break for the “You can’t beat our deals” sign beckoning car buyers to the gaudy red and white striped auto sales tent for the “ride” of their life.
It is common debate, regulations that prevent incompatibility of land uses are fair game when it comes to one’s private agenda. The bottom line being the loss of natural assets in favor of profit. Shame to those who lack a degree of stewardship for that which God gave us to find peace in our souls.
Having served as president of the Washington State Association of Boundary Review Boards, I feel compelled at this writing to appeal to those who uphold the review board’s mission to establish logical physical boundaries of city annexations and not yield to private interest.
In my opinion the current issue of approving the wholesale interdiction of a commercial venture upon the land subject to flooding in the vicinity of Island Crossing near Arlington is a modern day blunder, which one day we may all live to regret.
Everett
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