Point Roberts Conservation Society
PO Box 675
Point Roberts, WA 98281-0675
Suzanne Rosser, Treasurer,
PH: 360/945-0418
Press Interviews:
Michael Rosser
PH: 604/813-7515
BOARD OFFICERS:
Officers:
Michael Rosser
Mark Robbins
Suzanne Rosser
Directors:
Carol Clark
Steven Wolff
LINKS:
Lily Point Defenders
Nature Vancouver
The Nature Conservancy
The SeaDoc Society
Order The People of Cascadia
direct from author:
http://www.peopleofcascadia.com/
Tracing Our Past -
A Heritage Guide to Boundary Bay
by Anne Murray
with photographs by David Blevins
A Nature Guide to Boundary Bay
by Anne Murray
with photographs by David Blevins
Buy both of these books direct from author:
http://www.natureguidesbc.com/about_us.html
History of the Point Roberts Conservation Society
Published on Tue, Jul 27, 2010Read More PR Conservation Society
In 1988, a small group of concerned and dedicated neighbors, led by Larry and Aileen Crosetti, banded together to fight the proposed commercial development of Lily Point by Welsh Development Inc. The plan was to 
develop 132 acres of the former Alaska Packers Association (APA) property to create “The Resort at Lily Point,” consisting of a 72 room hotel, 18 hole golf course, three story 94 unit condominium, and 47 single family residential lots.
The golf resort project was first proposed in 1984 and finally died in 1996. Larry’s group fought it all the way, raising money from a community largely united in opposition to such development and spending thousands of dollars of his own money to pay for legal counsel. 1993 this effort led to the incorporation of this community advocacy group as the Resource Management Group (RMG), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation.
In 2006 directors of RMG handed over stewardship of the organization to a new group of directors, drawn mostly from the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association board, who lobbied for public acquisition of Lily Point by Whatcom County Parks and Recreation. Larry Crosetti retired in 2006 and the new Board of Directors officially adopted the (dba) Point Roberts Conservation Society (PRCS).
The new PRCS President, Michael Rosser, continued to lobby Whatcom County and the Whatcom Land Trust (WLT) to purchase the property from the tip of Lily Point to Cedar Point.
PRCS collected many generous donations from both Americans and Canadians. The purchase was completed with the help of many state agencies and interested private citizens.
On June 4, 2008 Lily Point Marine Reserve was dedicated in a beautiful ceremony that included drumming, song, and tribute by representatives of the Lummi Nation. PRCS was recognized by the Lummi elders for its more than 20 years of perseverance to make sure Lily Point is preserved for the ages. Chelhtenem (Lily Point) is listed on the Washington Heritage Register and has a Determination of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
PRCS continued to lobby various groups, including the Nature Conservancy (TNC), to purchase the rest of the Welch property. TNC soon fulfilled this second part of PRCS’s vision by purchasing the additional 150 acres of forested bluffs and tidelands, which will be added to Lily Point Marine Reserve. The dedication for this expansion of the park is planned for June 27, 2010.
There is a third and final part to PRCS’s vision of the preservation of Lily Point: The spectacularly beautiful and environmentally sensitive parcel of land to the west, which is currently under renewed threat of residential development. In 2006, Stanton Northwest Inc. announced plans to build a gated community of 103 upscale homes on 103 acres adjacent to Lily Point Marine Reserve, to be named “Lily Point Beach Club.” Those grandiose plans failed to materialize, but the successor company, Lily Point LLC is currently pursuing “Phase 1” of the Lily Point Beach Club plan, by seeking to develop and market 39 building lots on the 40 acres abutting the park. This new development was renamed Point Roberts Beach Club.
Again PRCS is leading the charge by assuring that Whatcom County and the developers comply fully with all zoning, land use, environmental laws and procedures; and by developing alternative land uses. To this end, PRCS has retained legal counsel to guide and assist the organization to fulfill its mission statement: to protect, enhance the natural, social, cultural, and spiritual environment of Point Roberts.
develop 132 acres of the former Alaska Packers Association (APA) property to create “The Resort at Lily Point,” consisting of a 72 room hotel, 18 hole golf course, three story 94 unit condominium, and 47 single family residential lots.The golf resort project was first proposed in 1984 and finally died in 1996. Larry’s group fought it all the way, raising money from a community largely united in opposition to such development and spending thousands of dollars of his own money to pay for legal counsel. 1993 this effort led to the incorporation of this community advocacy group as the Resource Management Group (RMG), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation.
In 2006 directors of RMG handed over stewardship of the organization to a new group of directors, drawn mostly from the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association board, who lobbied for public acquisition of Lily Point by Whatcom County Parks and Recreation. Larry Crosetti retired in 2006 and the new Board of Directors officially adopted the (dba) Point Roberts Conservation Society (PRCS).
The new PRCS President, Michael Rosser, continued to lobby Whatcom County and the Whatcom Land Trust (WLT) to purchase the property from the tip of Lily Point to Cedar Point.
PRCS collected many generous donations from both Americans and Canadians. The purchase was completed with the help of many state agencies and interested private citizens.
On June 4, 2008 Lily Point Marine Reserve was dedicated in a beautiful ceremony that included drumming, song, and tribute by representatives of the Lummi Nation. PRCS was recognized by the Lummi elders for its more than 20 years of perseverance to make sure Lily Point is preserved for the ages. Chelhtenem (Lily Point) is listed on the Washington Heritage Register and has a Determination of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
PRCS continued to lobby various groups, including the Nature Conservancy (TNC), to purchase the rest of the Welch property. TNC soon fulfilled this second part of PRCS’s vision by purchasing the additional 150 acres of forested bluffs and tidelands, which will be added to Lily Point Marine Reserve. The dedication for this expansion of the park is planned for June 27, 2010.
There is a third and final part to PRCS’s vision of the preservation of Lily Point: The spectacularly beautiful and environmentally sensitive parcel of land to the west, which is currently under renewed threat of residential development. In 2006, Stanton Northwest Inc. announced plans to build a gated community of 103 upscale homes on 103 acres adjacent to Lily Point Marine Reserve, to be named “Lily Point Beach Club.” Those grandiose plans failed to materialize, but the successor company, Lily Point LLC is currently pursuing “Phase 1” of the Lily Point Beach Club plan, by seeking to develop and market 39 building lots on the 40 acres abutting the park. This new development was renamed Point Roberts Beach Club.
Again PRCS is leading the charge by assuring that Whatcom County and the developers comply fully with all zoning, land use, environmental laws and procedures; and by developing alternative land uses. To this end, PRCS has retained legal counsel to guide and assist the organization to fulfill its mission statement: to protect, enhance the natural, social, cultural, and spiritual environment of Point Roberts.
Although the weather started out cloudy with drizzles, The Point Roberts Conservation Society Benefit Walk turn out to be a beautiful day.
History of the Point Roberts Conservation Society
In 1988, a small group of concerned and dedicated neighbors, led by Larry and Aileen Crosetti, banded together to fight the proposed commercial development of Lily Point by Welsh Development Inc. The plan was to develop 132 acres of the former Alaska Packers Association (APA) property to create “The Resort at Lily Point,” consisting of a 72 room hotel, 18 hole golf course, three story 94 unit condominium, and 47 single family residential lots.
Anne Murray's letter to the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner
I am totally opposed to a 103 home housing development on Lily Point, Point Roberts. How the protection of this highly significant area in the Boundary Bay watershed can now be threatened by housing developments is extraordinary.
Lily Point Walk Benefit - August 22, 2010
Come spend the day and walk with us through Chelhtenem an ancestral power spot at the center of the Salish Sea. As the last warm summer month lingers, experience and explore the bluffs and beaches where eagles fly, whales swim and native tribes gathered and celebrated over 9,000 years of history.
On Monday June 28 PRCS filed its appeal of the Point Roberts Beach Club DNS.
Point Roberts Conservation Society has retained David Bricklin of Bricklin, Newman, Dold LLP as legal counsel.