Local News
Beach Club submits new proposal
Published on Fri, Apr 29, 2011 by Meg OlsonRead More News
The Point Roberts Beach Club proposal has rumbled back to life with a revised application for a 62-lot subdivision on 60 acres bordered by Paul’s Road and APA Road. There are few changes in the current proposal other than scope.
On April 4, the county planning department issued a revised notice of application for the project, which gave members of the public until April 18 to submit comments on the project. County planner Amy Keenan said they had received approximately 60 comments with the majority of responses in opposition to the project. The possibility of county-imposed conditions to widen APA Road and the loss of the cathedral effect of the trees hanging over the road has struck a nerve with many residents.
The project was originally proposed by Stanton Northwest, which owned a 40-acre parcel. Plans called for a 103-unit subdivision on the Stanton property and an adjacent 60-acre piece of land owned by Bradbury Enterprises, the Champion Family Trust and the Ronald Nielsen Trust. The project was taken over in 2009 by Lily Point LLC after Stanton fell into arrears on a hefty bank loan and more than $60,000 in back taxes. Lily Point LLC is comprised of several former Stanton backers. The 40-acre property was sold at auction on the county courthouse steps in September 2010 after the new owners proved unable to negotiate with the bank.
The current project is scaled back to include only the western 60 acres and would be accessed from both APA Road and Paul’s Road. Lots are clustered on the water view side of the property while the forested area next to APA Road is retained as open space. The project includes a public trail along the bluff, beach access and a clubhouse for homeowners.
Revised documents for the application are available on the county planning department website at www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/plan/current/projects/beach-club/index.jsp.
Keenan said county staff had met to review the application on April 21. “We are going to ask for additional information,” she said, before determining if the project complies with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The applicant has 180 days to provide the information requested by the county engineering and health departments, but could respond more quickly. “Then we’ll meet again to see if we’re ready to issue a SEPA determination and put the application back on the calendar for a hearing,” she said, which will give the public another opportunity to comment on the project.
On April 4, the county planning department issued a revised notice of application for the project, which gave members of the public until April 18 to submit comments on the project. County planner Amy Keenan said they had received approximately 60 comments with the majority of responses in opposition to the project. The possibility of county-imposed conditions to widen APA Road and the loss of the cathedral effect of the trees hanging over the road has struck a nerve with many residents.
The project was originally proposed by Stanton Northwest, which owned a 40-acre parcel. Plans called for a 103-unit subdivision on the Stanton property and an adjacent 60-acre piece of land owned by Bradbury Enterprises, the Champion Family Trust and the Ronald Nielsen Trust. The project was taken over in 2009 by Lily Point LLC after Stanton fell into arrears on a hefty bank loan and more than $60,000 in back taxes. Lily Point LLC is comprised of several former Stanton backers. The 40-acre property was sold at auction on the county courthouse steps in September 2010 after the new owners proved unable to negotiate with the bank.
The current project is scaled back to include only the western 60 acres and would be accessed from both APA Road and Paul’s Road. Lots are clustered on the water view side of the property while the forested area next to APA Road is retained as open space. The project includes a public trail along the bluff, beach access and a clubhouse for homeowners.
Revised documents for the application are available on the county planning department website at www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/plan/current/projects/beach-club/index.jsp.
Keenan said county staff had met to review the application on April 21. “We are going to ask for additional information,” she said, before determining if the project complies with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The applicant has 180 days to provide the information requested by the county engineering and health departments, but could respond more quickly. “Then we’ll meet again to see if we’re ready to issue a SEPA determination and put the application back on the calendar for a hearing,” she said, which will give the public another opportunity to comment on the project.
An appeal of the determination of non-significance issued by county planners on the original project remains open as does the application. County hearing examiner Michael Bobbink said appellants can continue their appeal based on the new SEPA if they so choose.
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