The Port of Coupeville wants to make sure that the rural, economic and environmental future of Greenbank Farm is guaranteed.

Forever.

Thursday afternoon port commissioners unveiled their first draft of the 2007-2016 comprehensive plan to the public at the Greenbank Progressive Club.

The plan deals with two historic port-owned properties, the Coupeville Wharf and Greenbank Farm. The two properties make the port, and it’s long-term plan, unique.

“Out of the total 68 ports in Washington, only one operates a wharf and a farm,” said Port Director Jim Patton.

While the port’s plan for the Coupeville wharf was touched on at the meeting, the gathering was purposely skewed to focus on Greenbank area concerns, particularly the port’s desire for a conservation easement to protect and preserve the farm’s rural character.

The bonds that were issued to buy the 152 acres the port owns at Greenbank Farm will be paid off in 2017.

“The port fully accepts its responsibility to fulfill the public mandate to preserve the open space, environmental resources and historic character of the farm,” Patton said.

Since 2005, the port has been exploring the idea of a permanent conservation easement to restrict certain uses and development of the property. The problem is that under such a conservation easement, the value of the land may drop, making it difficult to pay off the mortgage.

To prevent that, the port will create a master site plan for Greenbank Farm to reach the right balance between economic, historic, agricultural and environmental needs.

The master plan includes a visitor center, much-needed public restrooms, a year-around farmers market facility, a hub for wooden boat building and better signs for visitors.

Additionally, the port hopes at some point to provide public access to Holmes Harbor for kayaks and small boats.

“Of course, that would depend on a private landowner willing to let the port have access to the water,” Patton said.

Although the comp plan recognizes the Greenbank Farm Management Group as a key stakeholder due to the lease and management services contract that runs until 2014, it doesn’t go far enough for some, including the group’s president Karen Hutchinson.

“We’re very pleased the commissioners are proceeding with the conservation easement process,” Hutchinson said. “My concern is that the Greenbank Farm Management Group isn’t being considered as a full partner with the port.”

Hutchinson also asked what would happen when the management group’s current agreement expires.

“It says that in 2014 the contract ends, giving the port an extra $45,000 a year. But it doesn’t say how that money will be used,” she said.

“The plan needs clear language providing direction about how, or even whether, the partnership will continue,” Hutchinson said.

Port officials didn’t take up the partnership issue, however.

“We are looking for public input today and will not be defending or debating the plan,” said commission president Benye Weber. “Our role is to listen.”

Patton noted there were several principles the comp plan authors considered over the past 14 months:

• Tourism is slowly but inexorably increasing. “We are a destination for many people and that is not going to change,” Patton said.

• Industrial growth is constrained by a wide variety of environmental concerns. “There are possibilities for very light industrial firms on port property that may be acquired in the future,” Patton said.

Port commissioners will have one or two more public meetings to fine tune the plan before adopting it at their April 11 meeting.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.