Channel Landing residents urge City of Anacortes to install physical barrier after repeated crashes at Oaks Avenue curve

Janine Jolley said she returned to the City Council on Nov. 3 to press for physical protection at the Oaks Avenue curve after a vehicle crashed into her home on Oct. 30.

"I stand before you this evening by the grace of god that I am here with you and not viewing my son or my husband at the city morgue and planning a funeral," Janine Jolley said, describing video and photos she provided to the city and council. She told council members the vehicle ruptured the family's hot tub and entered the house, and that the family installed home cameras because they feared another incident.

The Jolleys and other Channel Landing residents said the citys previous reliance on signage and state DOT jurisdiction has not prevented repeated, increasingly severe collisions. "Since that January that February appearance, there have been 3 more additional serious accidents, including the most recent and most severe on October 30," resident Shauna Kitson said, calling the curve "proven treacherous" and urging the council to "collaborate with the DOT if needed to install a physical barrier of sorts at this dangerous Oaks Avenue curve before home horror becomes human tragedy."

Cheryl Cheney, president of the Channel Landing Homeowners Association, said HOA replacement costs for an acoustic fence have reached about $40,000 and expressed concern for a future fatality if a barrier is not installed. David Jolley, an attorney and accident reconstruction expert, said his family's recent damage cost approximately $100,000 and argued the cost of a guardrail would be far less than repeated property damage or a fatality.

City staff and council did not make a binding commitment at the Nov. 3 meeting. City Engineer Logan Lee was identified in prior staff discussions about the site; residents said they first raised the issue with the city in January 2025 and again on Feb. 24. Residents asked the city to pursue options including metal rail, ecology blocks, large boulders or collaborative work with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Why this matters: Residents presented video, photo and a pattern of collisions they say demonstrates risk to life and property at a single curve. The council and staff face a choice between a physical mitigation that residents say will reduce imminent risk and a continued reliance on signage plus DOT coordination. The council did not adopt immediate funding or a formal motion to install a barrier at the Nov. 3 meeting.

Next steps noted at the meeting: staff indicated the issue has been discussed previously with the city engineer and legal staff, and residents urged the council to prioritize collaboration with DOT and to return with a specific plan and cost estimate.

Speakers

- Janine Jolley, resident (Channel Landing). First referenced at 00:14:08 in public comment; provided video and photo evidence. - Shauna Kitson, resident (Channel Landing). - Cheryl Cheney, president, Channel Landing Homeowners Association (resident). - David Jolley, attorney and Channel Landing resident; described accident reconstruction expertise and provided estimated damage figures.

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Actions

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Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion only: Residents presented repeated incidents, video evidence, repair costs and legal concerns about negligence. No formal city action, funding or direction to staff to install a barrier was recorded during the Nov. 3 meeting.

Clarifying details

- Reported incidents: residents said there have been multiple serious accidents at the curb since 12/25/2024, and residents asserted a total of 7 collisions at the curve to date (resident statements). Source: public comment. - Recent damage estimate: resident David Jolley estimated about $100,000 in home damage from the Oct. 30 crash (public comment). - HOA fence replacement cost: Cheryl Cheney said replacement panels cost about $3,000 each and that about $40,000 in damage had been incurred by the HOA (public comment).

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