Sequim resident objects to survey activity and possible road expansion near Shaw Stump Farm; city staff to verify notice and scope

Sequim resident Val Shaw told the council she was alarmed to find survey markers in a pasture on her family’s Shaw Stump Farm and said she feared a planned expansion of Ninth Avenue and Hammond Street would remove fences, remove trees and harm grazing land. Shaw said she had not received prior notice of the survey and recalled earlier impacts when Costco was built. "When he came and surveyed, he was way out into my field, and it would destroy all of the brush and everything we've allowed to grow up that keeps people out," Shaw said. City staff and the city engineer responded during open discussion that the survey work in the area was performed under an on-call contract and was intended to collect topographic and utility-locate information. The city manager and the city engineer said no design work has been completed and no right-of-way acquisitions have been authorized. Staff noted a standard right-of-entry request package is sent to affected property owners when consultants need to survey adjacent private property and said property owners are given up to 48 hours’ notice when that process is used. The city engineer said the bulk of design work for the Ninth Avenue connection is planned to occur with a clearer scope and funding; staff expect to have a better description of right-of-way needs by Q1 or Q2 of next year and said they will verify that required notifications and consents were provided in this case. Shaw asked the council to consider impacts to trees, fences, pasture and livestock and to protect what she described as a multigenerational family farm; staff acknowledged those concerns and promised follow-up.