Council member Liz Lovelett was the only dissenting vote on the request for a shoreline substantial development permit. Banana Belt Boats wants to build a 100-boat sales yard on the Fidalgo Bay shoreline.
Council member Ryan Walters said “Clearly this is allowed” under current zoning and the shoreline code. He said a better plan for would have been better, but that plan isn’t there.
Council member Erica Pickett said, “This comports with our laws, it does.”
“This may not be the best use, but we zoned this. It is compliant” said Council member Matt Miller.
The Council comments followed what the city called a closed record public hearing, designed to take new arguments, but no new evidence, included comments from the public that urged a better use for the waterfront property.
Richard Wright, the manager of Cap Sante Marine, called the proposed use not water-related. He said, “How can we devote the last five acres of waterfront and have no more jobs than a coffee stand…eight jobs?” He noted other waterfront property is owned by one owner, referring to MJB, which owns the parcel directly landward of the proposed Banana Belt Boats sales yard, as well as other property along the Fidalgo Bay waterfront.
Andy Stewart, the owner of Emerald Marine, said the property would be much more valuable as a heavy boat haul out. “The smaller boats can be stored anywhere, but heavier boats can’t be hauled easily,” he said. We need a new heavy boat travel-lift. “It is essential to our town.”
The need for a boat lift capable of hauling out large boats and moving them between the waterfront and a boatyard has been discussed for years.
Banana Belt Boats still needs other permits, as well as a lease from the stet Department of Natural Resources, which owns the 5.1 acre parcel. The waterfront property has been vacant for many years.