To the editor:

I was happy to read of Island County’s commitment to shoreline public access as stated by planning director Jeff Tate in his Viewpoint letter of June 2.

Mr. Tate and his staff and the staff of the department of public works have been diligent and courteous in providing me with information about what is going on at the Greenbank Landing public access.

However, his letter left unanswered some glaring questions.

How, in this day and age, was Mr. Montgomery able to get permits to build multiple septic systems and a portion of his new vacation house on designated second class tidelands?

Why was a design that effectively turned the so-called end of Greenbank Road into a driveway to Montgomery’s new garage given a permit? It does not appear that the public presence here was even taken into consideration.

Why has the county been so ineffectual and negligent for decades in defense of a historic public highway to and from the water?

Mr. Tate says that the Montgomery wall does not require a permit because it is not over

4 feet high. How can it be that a new structure going up on second class tidelands that abut a public road is not subject to any Shoreline Management Program regulations?

Glen Russell

Greenbank