LETTER TO THE EDITOR | View impacts aside, what about maintenance?

Editor, The public has been focused on how the extraordinary view to Langley’s main entrance will be ruined by the proposed elevator to the marina. There are other critical issues that are not being dealt with. Parking has not been arranged for marina expansion and the four-story Schell restaurant/inn. Both of these facilities will exist a very long time. Parking must be dealt with now, not after the fact. City spokespersons have been quoted saying parking would use Island Church of Whidbey’s park and ride lot and school district property. Neither property is available for needed long-term parking.

October 14, 2014 6:16 pm

Editor,

The public has been focused on how the extraordinary view to Langley’s main entrance will be ruined by the proposed elevator to the marina. There are other critical issues that are not being dealt with.

Parking has not been arranged for marina expansion and the four-story Schell restaurant/inn. Both of these facilities will exist a very long time. Parking must be dealt with now, not after the fact. City spokespersons have been quoted saying parking would use Island Church of Whidbey’s park and ride lot and school district property. Neither property is available for needed long-term parking.

The church park and ride is for cars during week days. Saturday afternoon and Sunday public parking is reserved for church use. Thirteen years remain for the park and ride agreement — cars only, no boat trailers, no weekend use. No long-term agreement has been made with the school district. The marina, inn and restaurant will be there forever. Parking is needed forever.

At the Langley Planning Advisory Board meeting we were told the city’s building code does not require the new restaurant/inn to provide parking. Does Langley have excess parking to subsidize new marina business development?

An unsupervised outdoor elevator operating 24/7 to serve boaters is exposed to harsh wear from hauling boat supplies and fish, vandalism, need for frequent cleaning and electricity. Elevators break down and need prompt repair. They also wear out and need replacement. Rather elementary questions were asked at the planning advisory board meeting: What will it cost to operate the elevator and replace it when it wears out? What will providing convenient off-site, long-term parking cost? The response was that information has not been determined.

How does the marina expansion and a new four-story restaurant/inn get to this stage without these questions being addressed and resolved?

Ruining the view to Langley’s entrance and nearby property is extremely important and deserves the attention it is getting. Lack of parking, the cost of parking and elevator operation is also extremely important. That is not getting attention. Does the city and Port of South Whidbey expect Langley taxpayers to pay for this very long-term commitment?

CHARLIE PANCERZEWSKI

Mukilteo