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Seabright stairs, trail maintenance and DNR timber permits raise enforcement questions
Summary
The committee discussed loss of the Seabright public stairs in a storm, trail maintenance responsibilities and whether Point Roberts should petition the state to route DNR timber permits through Whatcom County to increase local review and enforcement.
Members reported that public stairs at Seabright were lost in a storm and that associated upland trails are not currently being maintained as originally intended under developer agreements and conditional-use permit terms. Bennett Knox and other participants urged follow-up with developers and county enforcement to restore public access where permitted by plats and permits.
The committee discussed a broader concern about state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) timber permits that allow substantial clearing; some members proposed investigating whether Point Roberts should request that DNR permit reviews be routed through Whatcom County to allow local land-clearing oversight. Staff said that once a project is under DNR jurisdiction, county review authority is limited, but they committed to monitoring and notifying PRCAC of relevant DNR permits and to pursuing enforcement letters in specific cases.
Staff promised to follow up on enforcement channels with public works and county departments and to return with options for community action on trail maintenance and DNR permit notifications.
