Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge honoring MOA and cautious approach to density and infrastructure
Summary
During public comment, several residents urged the town to honor the MOA and raised concerns about traffic, construction impacts, infrastructure capacity, and whether higher-density proposals would really deliver long-term affordable housing. Some suggested options like elder housing, deed restrictions and targeted site swaps.
During the public-comment period, multiple residents urged the commission to protect property-owner expectations and study infrastructure before approving any MOA changes. Ed Benfield, a resident who said he bought in the MOA area seven years ago, argued the original agreement shaped residents’ investment decisions: "It is an agreement between us and the town of Coupeville, and it should stand. It shouldn't be changed after my neighbors and I have invested in my properties and so forth."
Other speakers highlighted quality-of-life and infrastructure concerns. Ricardo Reyes requested clearer labeling and maintenance of trail and park entrances and said he sees more children in neighborhood blocks and would like a safe local park. Susan Asplin, who identified herself as a newer resident, said she supports housing but questioned whether a scheme that could yield 66 dwelling units on three small parcels is realistic given water, sewer, and road capacity; she urged slow, intentional planning and called out elder-housing opportunities and deed-restriction tools as potential mitigations.
